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The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is considering a proposal to exempt from clearance by Voluntary Coordinating Agencies (VCAs) adoptions by the non-resident Indians with Indian passports. This was disclosed by the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Smt. Meera Kumar while inaugurating a two-day Annual Meet on Adoption here this morning. Smt. Kumar said that deliberations at the meet on the issue will facilitate early decision in this regard. The Minister said that the adoption has emerged both as a means for strengthening the rights of child and fulfilling the needs of the parents but sometimes illegal practices has led to exploitation. She said Meet will concretize a strategy for preventing illegal adoptions.
Smt. Kumar said that she would be writing to Chief Ministers of the more populous states to set up necessary infrastructure for promoting adoption. She regretted that these states do not have thriving programmes on adoptions. The Minister said that she would be also taking up the issue of delays in juvenile courts on adoption with the Law Minister.
Earlier, the Social Justice and Empowerment Secretary, Smt. Sarita Prasad called for making adoption procedures simple and transparent. She said that the Centre is keen on all States vigorously taking up adoption schemes. Smt. Prasad said that only Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat have adopted ‘Sishu Grah Scheme’. She said the Child Judicial Boards should be set up in all states to strengthen the juvenile justice system.
The two-day Meet organised by the Central Adoption Resource Agency, CARA, will discuss various issues pertaining to adoption including non-resident Indian adoptions. It is attended by the representatives from the State Governments, Indian Adoption Agencies, Voluntary Coordinating Agencies for Adoption, officials from the Ministries of External Affairs and Social Justice and Empowerment and the adoptive parents
MLD:LK:SJE(22.2)
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