Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry has urged people to not share information on social media about children found abandoned or in distress as it can put the child’s life at risk.
It said such information should be reported to CHILDLINE on 1098.
Several children are facing serious distress in the event of parents getting infected or hospitalised due to COVID.
Some of them have lost their parents to the pandemic.
Invitation to persons for the adoption of orphans is illegal as no adoption of a child can be permitted without the involvement of the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA). As per sources, giving or taking children in adoption without following due process of law is illegal.
Such adoption is punishable and also amounts to child trafficking.
Appeals related to the direct adoption of children affected by COVID on social media are completely illegal and may increase the risk of child exploitation and trafficking.
Central Adoption Resource Authority, CARA is a statutory body of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
It functions as the nodal body for the adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions.
If anyone is interested to adopt an orphan or abandoned or surrendered child, they should apply to Specialised Adoption Agencies through Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System, CARINGS, by filling up the online application form.