Pune, Sep 3 (IANS) Looking to promote family-based care and adoption of children with special needs, the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) organised its Fourth Regional Consultative Workshop for the Western Zone in Pune, an official said on Thursday.
Addressing the gathering, Bhavna Saxena, CARA CEO and Member Secretary, emphasised sustained and collaborative efforts to increase the adoption of children with special needs, an official statement said.
She highlighted that CARA’s series of outreach and consultative initiatives, under the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child Development have contributed to strengthening the adoption ecosystem.
She stressed the importance of continuing rigorous and coordinated efforts to further expand opportunities for children with special needs to receive permanent family-based care.
The workshop brought together officials and stakeholders from State Adoption Resource Agencies (SARAs), Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAAs), Child Care Institutions (CCIs), District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), Chief Medical Officers (CMOs), medical and healthcare professionals, and child protection experts.
Their participation facilitated a multi-sectoral dialogue on strengthening adoption processes and enhancing support mechanisms for children with special needs, the statement said.
The deliberations focused on the current status of adoption of children with special needs across the Western Zone, sharing of successful practices and case studies, and identification of challenges affecting the adoption and rehabilitation process.
“Participants discussed issues relating to medical assessments, legal and procedural requirements, financial considerations, grievance redressal and inter-departmental coordination,” the statement said.
“Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening coordination between child protection and healthcare systems to ensure timely assessment, appropriate support and smoother facilitation of adoption,” it added.
Maharashtra Minister for Women and Child Development Aditi Varda Sunil Tatkare, addressed the participating stakeholders through a video message.
The Western Zone, comprising Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, has a wide geographical and administrative reach.
Reflecting this scale, the workshop witnessed participation from 150 stakeholders representing more than 74 districts, providing a significant platform for regional dialogue, knowledge sharing and coordination on adoption and child rehabilitation.
–IANS
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