Illegal adoption row: Government orders inspection of childcare homes
What's the story
After cases of alleged illegal adoptions carried out by childcare homes run by Mother Teresa-founded Missionaries of Charity (MoC) surfaced recently, the Indian Government has ordered all the states to get MoC homes inspected immediately. WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi directed the states to ensure that all childcare institutions (CCIs) are registered with the apex adoption body, Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), within a month.
Illegal adoptions
MoC-run shelter home in Ranchi allegedly sold three children
A shelter home run by the MoC in Ranchi has allegedly been involved in "selling" three children and "giving away" another one. According to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, registration of CCIs and their linking with the CARA is mandatory, but some orphanages have challenged the validity of the clause, a Ministry official said.
CCI, CARA linkage
2,300 CCIs have been linked to CARA since December 2017
Approximately 2,300 CCIs have been linked to CARA since Dec'17, while about 4,000 more are still pending for linkage. Maneka Gandhi expressed displeasure over the fact that children in 2,300 institutions linked to CARA are yet to be brought under an adoption system. According to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, nearly 2.33 lakh children are currently under the care of CCIs.