In a major step towards making child protection and the legal adoption process more efficient, transparent and robust, the State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA), Punjab, under the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development, Government of Punjab, today organised a one-day State-Level Training Programme on the Adoption Regulations, 2022 under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Addressing the media after inaugurating the training programme, Punjab Cabinet Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, said that the Punjab Government is fully committed to ensuring that no child in the State is deprived of the love, care and security of a family.
She said the Government is strengthening a transparent, child-centric and legally compliant adoption system that safeguards the rights and best interests of every child. Sharing a significant achievement, the Cabinet Minister said Punjab has become the first state in the country to establish a Specialized Adoption Agency (SAA) in every district.
At present, 26 Specialized Adoption Agencies are functioning across the State, including 16 Government-run and 10 NGO-managed agencies. Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that during the last three years, 87 orphaned, abandoned and surrendered children have been placed in legally recognised adoptive families.
Of these, 66 children were adopted within India, including 18 boys and 48 girls, while 21 children were adopted through inter-country adoption, including 5 boys and 16 girls. During the same period, 10 children with special needs were also placed in loving and caring families.
In addition, 47 children were legally adopted by relatives and step-parents, taking the total number of children who found permanent, legally protected family environments over the last three years to 134. The Minister said these figures reflect the Punjab Government's unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child in need grows up in a safe, nurturing and caring family environment.
The Cabinet Minister emphasised that effective coordination among District Magistrates/Deputy Commissioners, Chief Medical Officers, Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) and Specialized Adoption Agencies is essential for the timely rehabilitation of children in need of care and protection and for ensuring that the entire adoption process remains transparent, efficient and legally compliant.
The training programme witnessed participation from representatives of Deputy Commissioners, Civil Surgeons/Chief Medical Officers, Child Welfare Committees, District Child Protection Units, Specialized Adoption Agencies and other key stakeholders from all districts of the State.
During the technical sessions, Mr. Sayam Bin Khalid, representative of the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), provided detailed insights into the key provisions of the Adoption Regulations, 2022, use of the CARINGS portal, documentation requirements, timelines and the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders.
Prof. (Dr.) Bhavneet Bharti, Head of the Department of Paediatrics, PGIMER, Chandigarh, also delivered a detailed session on medical examination of children, health assessment, identification of children with special needs and the importance of maintaining comprehensive medical records.
The participants also deliberated on the challenges faced during the adoption process, possible solutions and measures to strengthen inter-departmental coordination so that all stakeholders remain fully updated with the latest legal provisions and procedural guidelines governing adoption.
Director, Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Sheena Aggarwal, Special Secretary Mr. Keshav Hingonia, and other senior officers of the Department were prominently present on the occasion.