more-in In line with the ongoing ‘Dattata Parichaya Vedika’, an awareness platform created by the Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW) Department to educate people on child adoption, a programme was held at Zilla Parishad meeting hall on Sunday for prospective parents. With an objective to sensitise childless couples on authorised adoption and demystifying the procedural delay involved in it, WD&CW Department launched the campaign last month. After its maiden ‘vedika’ in Vijayawada, followed by similar sessions in Guntur and Kadapa, this is the fourth such event organised by the department in Visakhapatnam. Addressing the participants, WD&CW Commissioner H. Arun Kumar said many are under the impression that opting for legal adoption is a time-consuming exercise involving complicated steps. “The camp aims at dispelling such myths among prospective couples and helps facilitate the abandoned and surrendered children having a protective family life. The misconception about the adoption process is the key reason for the rise in illegal adoptions which leads to babies being stolen from hospitals and couples from economically weaker sections selling away their infants,” he explained. Online portal Apart from the role of authorities, documents required and recognised agencies that facilitate the adoption process, the platform also introduced childless couples to the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS) portal of the Ministry of Women and Child Development where they can register online for adoption. Mr. Arun Kumar added that the department was taking concrete steps to add details of more children suitable for intra and inter-country adoption to the portal to meet the growing demand for adopting children. Legal battle Citing a few case studies, he also explained the implications involved in illegal adoptions wherein couples end up in a long-drawn legal battle. Parents who adopted children through authorised channels narrated their experiences. Chairperson of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights G. Hymavathi and Senior Civil Judge S. Damodar Rao also spoke .

Stay updated with all the Latest Visakhapatnam headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.