J&K govt sets up Adoption Resource Agency

Srinagar, Dec 10: The J&K government on Friday set up an adoption resource agency to deal with adoption and related matters in the union territory.

As per an order issued to this effect by the General Administration Department, the J&K Adoption Resource Agency (JKARA) constituted under section 67 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 will be chaired by Secretary Social Welfare Department while Mission Director, Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), Director, Health Services Jammu/ Kashmir, one member of the State Legal Services Authority, Chairperson of a Child Welfare Committee (CWC), representative of specialized adoption agency and a member from civil society involved in child welfare and protection for at least 10 years would be its members.

The agency would deal with adoption and related matters in the UT under the guidance of the Central Adoption Resource Agency constituted in terms of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

It would also function as the executive arm of the Jammu and Kashmir government for promotion, facilitation, monitoring and regulation of the adoption programme in the UT and perform such functions as are prescribed under adoption regulations, 2017 issued by the Ministry of Child Development.

It will also carry out such other functions as may be assigned by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) from time to time.

The setting up of the J&KARA comes on the heels of an investigative report alleging illegal adoption of and "sale" of children orphaned by COVID-19 in Kashmir.