The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) held an awareness workshop in New Delhi to combat illegal adoption practices, emphasizing the importance of following legal adoptions and safeguarding children from these practices.
On September 11, 2026, the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), under the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, collaborated with the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of NCT of Delhi, and the Delhi State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) to host an Adoption Awareness Workshop at the Main Auditorium, Delhi Secretariat, New Delhi. The event was themed: ‘Legal Adoption. Safe Childhood. Secure Future. Say No to Illegal Adoption.’
The workshop was graced by Smt. Bhavna Saxena, CEO, CARA; Smt. Rashmi Singh, Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, Government of NCT of Delhi, and other senior officials and stakeholders from the child protection, adoption ecosystem, Health & Police Departments.
Approximately 200 participants from various sectors attended the workshop to strengthen awareness about the legal, transparent, and child-centric adoption process and to create greater awareness about the risks and serious consequences of illegal adoption practices. As part of the initiative, a fiction film on legal adoption was launched during the event.
The workshop featured three focused technical sessions: Session 1 ‘Illegal Adoption: Emerging Trends, Challenges and State/National Response’, Session 2 ‘Role of Hospitals/Nursing Homes, Health Systems, Police & Judiciary in Preventing Illegal Adoption’ and Session 3 ‘Strengthening Child Protection System: SARAs, CWCs, DCPUs, CCIs.’
A special experience-sharing session featured Shri Arun Sharma, DCPO, on combating illegal adoption. The event concluded with an interactive quiz session designed to assess participants’ understanding and retention of key information shared during the various sessions.
The awareness initiative emphasized that illegal adoption not only violates the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, but can also deprive children of their legal safeguards, rights and protection.
Source:
Press Information Bureau


