The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, in collaboration with the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of NCT of Delhi, and the Delhi State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA), organized an Adoption Awareness Workshop at the Main Auditorium, Delhi Secretariat, New Delhi on September 11, 2026. The workshop was conducted under the theme "Legal Adoption. Safe Childhood. Secure Future. Say No to Illegal Adoption" as part of National Adoption Awareness Month–2026.
The event brought together approximately 200 participants from various child protection and adoption ecosystem stakeholders, including representatives from Health & Police Departments, Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), Child Care Institutions (CCIs), hospital administrators, medical professionals, ASHA and ANM workers, civil society organizations, and media representatives. Key attendees included Smt. Bhavna Saxena (CEO, CARA), Smt. Rashmi Singh (Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, Government of NCT of Delhi), Smt. Neha Yadav (DCP, SPUWAC), Smt. Monica Bharadwaj (Additional CP, Crime, Delhi Police), Shri O.P. Vyas (Chairperson, DCPCR), and Dr. Anil Yadav (CMO, Outer North District).
During the workshop, Smt. Bhavna Saxena emphasized that awareness and vigilance across the entire child protection ecosystem are essential to safeguarding children from illegal adoption practices, stating that every child deserves a safe childhood, secure future, and protection of the law. Smt. Rashmi Singh highlighted the significance of participation from stakeholders across the child protection ecosystem, noting that such collective efforts reflect strong institutional commitment to ensuring safe and secure childhoods.
The workshop featured three focused technical sessions: Session 1 covered "Illegal Adoption: Emerging Trends, Challenges and State/National Response"; Session 2 addressed the "Role of Hospitals/Nursing Homes, Health Systems, Police & Judiciary in Preventing Illegal Adoption"; and Session 3 focused on "Strengthening Child Protection System: SARAs, CWCs, DCPUs, CCIs". These sessions aimed to strengthen coordination among State Adoption Resource Agencies (SARAs), Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), and Child Care Institutions (CCIs), while sensitizing key stakeholders from Police, Health, and Anganwadi sectors.
A special experience-sharing session featured the real-life experience of Shri Arun Sharma, DCPO, on combating illegal adoption, providing practical insights into ground-level challenges and the importance of timely intervention by field-level child protection functionaries. The workshop also included the launch of a fiction film on legal adoption designed to communicate the importance of following authorized adoption processes and highlight risks associated with illegal adoption in an accessible manner.
The event concluded with an interactive quiz session to assess participants' understanding of key information shared during the workshop, reinforcing messages relating to legal adoption, child protection, and prevention of illegal adoption. A play presented by DMRC Salam Baalak Trust sensitized participants on child rights, child protection, and safety, emphasizing collective responsibility to ensure a safe environment for every child.
The awareness initiative focused on combating illegal adoption practices that violate the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and can deprive children of legal safeguards, rights, and protection. Participants were sensitized about the importance of coordinated action, timely intervention, and adherence to the legal adoption framework to protect the rights and best interests of children.
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