Illegal Adoption Of Orphans Increases Amidst The Covid-19 Pandemic

Amrita Bhalla

Pune, 2nd June 2021: There has been a rapid increase in the illegal adoption of children amidst the Covid-19 pandemic because of a misinformed message being circulated on social media.

The message on social media appeals to the citizens to adopt orphaned children who have lost both the parents or one of the parents to Covid-19. This is illegal and the person in question can be booked under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, for illegal adoption of a child outside the legal framework of adoption.

If an individual has any potential information on an orphan child or about adoption, the person should contact the CHILDLINE (Toll-Free Number-1098), Local Police, Any Specialized Adoption Agency (SAA), Child Welfare Committee (CWC), District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) and undergo the proper channel of adoption. The adoption process runs through the procedure under the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) which is a statutory body of the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India.

Smriti Irani, Minister in Union Cabinet, took upon Twitter to talk about the same and tweeted-

“If you come to know of any child who has lost both parents to Covid-19 and has no one to take care of her/him, inform police or child welfare committee of your district or contact ChildLine 1098. It is your legal responsibility,”

In another tweet, she said, ” it is illegal to give or take orphan children of anyone else in adoption. Such children should be taken to child welfare committee, which will take necessary action in the best interest of the child.”

The Women and Child Development Department issued a warning and appealed to the citizens that, they should come forward and inform the state helpline no. 1098 or the state adoption resource agency no. 8329041531 about any such attempts of illegal adoption. “Going through the proper legal adoption channels or procedure and to report such illegal adoption practices is our social duty. To provide safety and protection to the orphan children, with immediate care, and to keep the interest of the orphan is our priority” said, the department.