Chandigarh, August 6, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
To simplify the process of child adoption, the Punjab Government is establishing adoption agencies in every district of the state and creating 172 new posts to strengthen the infrastructure for the adoption of destitute and orphaned children.
While presiding over the state-level training program on Adoption Regulation, 2022, at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute for Public Administration Chandigarh, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is continuously working for the care of orphans.
To achieve this objective, the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development is providing financial assistance of Rs. 26 lakh per year to various non-governmental organizations involved in the adoption process for the welfare and protection of destitute and orphaned children.
She added that more than 300 destitute and orphaned children have been adopted through the department’s proper implementation of the child adoption process, giving them a family atmosphere.
She instructed all the Additional Deputy Commissioners to ensure that child adoption applications received in the state are processed within the stipulated time. Additionally, she directed civil surgeons to resolve any difficulties faced by parents in registering the adopted child’s birth certificate promptly.
This ensures that adopted children, whether by foreign couples or couples from other states, do not face any difficulties.
Emphasizing the importance of support, the Minister directed department officials to form support groups for parents to strengthen the adoption process. This would enable follow-ups on the adopted children and counseling for the parents. Similarly, prospective adoptive parents can be motivated by being informed about potential post-adoption challenges.
Dr. Baljit Kaur issued strict instructions to all District Program Officers, emphasizing that child adoption applications should be verified on merit and processed by district magistrates in a timely manner based on accurate facts.
Special Chief Secretary of Social Security, Women and Child Development, Mrs. Raji P. Shrivastava, stated that efforts are being made to encourage all child adoption agencies to strengthen the adoption process in the state, ensuring that every child can find a family and integrate into mainstream society.
Director of Social Security and Women and Child Development Department, Dr. Shena Aggarwal, welcomed the stakeholders and provided detailed information about the child adoption process.
On this occasion, Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) Deputy Director Poonam Sharma and Consultant Shivani Chauhan shared information about the process of adopting a child under Adoption Regulation, 2022, ensuring the child’s future security. Additionally, the adopted daughter’s mother, Minal Lal, shared her experiences.
Participants in this state-level training program included Additional Deputy Commissioners of District Administration, Chief Medical Officers and stakeholders working under the Mission Vatsalya Scheme, such as District Program Officers, District Child Protection Officers, Child Protection Officers, Member Child Welfare Committees, and representatives of Specialized Adoption Agencies (SAA).
