A two-day sensitization programme on Child Rights, Care and Protection of Children  for functionaries of Mission Vatsalya and Child Care Institutions (CCIs) concluded at the DC Office Conference Hall, Leh on September 9. The programme was chaired by Sonali Kumari, Assistant Director, National Institute of Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD), Regional Centre Mohali.

The sessions focused on strengthening awareness about adoption regulations, child protection mechanisms, and the roles of stakeholders in safeguarding children.

Sonam Chosdon, Project Manager, State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) Ladakh, spoke on adoption processes and the categories of children eligible for adoption, including orphans, abandoned children, surrendered children, and those with unfit guardians. She emphasized guiding principles under the Juvenile Justice Act such as the child’s best interest, confidentiality, family responsibility, and institutionalisation only as a last resort.

Detailed discussions were held on the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) referral process, timelines for adoption of children with normal health status and special needs, legal eligibility of Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs), and the importance of confidentiality regarding a child’s identity and past.

Sonali Kumari underlined that only legally eligible children should be admitted into CCIs, explaining the two categories under Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP)—those requiring care and protection, and those in conflict with law. She also outlined procedures under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (HAMA), 1956, particularly for cases involving relocation of adopted children abroad, including registration, home studies, scrutiny of documents, CARA verification, and issuance of conformity certificates under the Hague Convention.

Responsibilities of SARA under Regulation 35 were also highlighted, such as establishing a governing body under the State Government, issuing pre-approval letters for relative and step-parent adoptions, ensuring counsellors and social workers at the DCPU, and making efforts to place special needs and older children in adoption.

The sensitization programme served as a platform to build the capacity of Mission Vatsalya and CCI functionaries in Ladakh, reinforcing collective responsibility to ensure transparency in adoption and protection of child rights.