CARA- Central Adoption Resource Authority

Why in news: The Supreme Court recently questioned the delay in procedure of adoption where only 10% of the orphan children are adopted annually due to procedural delays

Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA):

Establishment:

• CARA is a statutory body of the Ministry of Women & Child Development, founded in 1990 and established under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.

Role:

• It serves as India’s adoption regulation body, overseeing the adoption of orphaned, surrendered, and abandoned children.

 CARA’s Functions:

• Monitoring and Regulation: CARA monitors and regulates various adoption-related bodies, managing registration, home study reports, referrals, court petitions, and post-adoption follow-ups.
• International Adoptions: As a signatory to the 1993 Hague Convention, CARA facilitates inter-country adoptions beyond the children’s state of origin, ratified by India in 2003.

Legislation:

• Adoption in India is governed by the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 (specific religions), and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, in which CARA plays a significant role.

Evolution:

• CARA’s powers expanded with changes in juvenile justice laws, introducing an e-governance system (CARINGS) and enhancing transparency.

Challenges Faced by CARA:

• Declining Figures: Challenges include declining adoption figures, infrastructural deficiencies, poor agency functioning, lack of awareness, and procedural issues.

Criticism:

• CARA faced criticism for restricting queer and unmarried couples from adopting, procedural complexities, and concerns about the dehumanization of the adoption process.
• Critique of Laws: Current laws like the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act and the Juvenile Justice Act are criticized for not adequately protecting children’s interests.

 Proposed Solutions:

Suggestions: Recommendations propose a child-centric, optional, enabling, and gender-just special adoption law to address the challenges and streamline the adoption process.

For more information please visit: https://cara.wcd.gov.in/