Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)

• CARA is a statutory body of the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India.
• It functions as the nodal body for adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions.
• CARA is designated as the Central Authority to deal with inter-country adoptions in accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993, ratified by the Government of India in 2003.
• CARA primarily deals with the adoption of orphan, abandoned, and surrendered children through its associated /recognized adoption agencies.
• CARA interacts with State Governments and UT Administrations through regular training and orientation programmes as well as meetings, consultations and visits to the States/UTs.
• The implementation of the adoption programme in the States/UTs is reviewed in various consultations organized by the Ministry as well as meetings of the Project Approval Board to consider proposals received from States/UTs for release of grants under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme.
• In 2018, CARA allowed individuals in a live-in relationship to adopt children from and within India.

Hague Convention on Adoption

• The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption is an international convention dealing with international adoption, child laundering, and child trafficking.
• The Convention was developed by the Hague Conference on Private International Law, the preeminent organization in the area of private international law.
• It was concluded on 29 May 1993 and entered into force on 1 May 1995.
• It is an effort to protect those involved from the corruption, abuses, and exploitation which sometimes accompanies international adoption.
• The Convention has been considered crucial because it provides a formal international and intergovernmental recognition of intercountry adoption to ensure that adoptions under the Convention will generally be recognized and given effect in other party countries.
• 96 countries including India has signed and ratified this convention. Whereas Nepal, South Korea, and Russia are yet to ratify it.

National Commission for protection of Child Rights, 2005

1. It is a Statutory Body. NCPCR has given the definition of child to be less than 18 years.
2. NCPCR can take up suo-motu cases.
3. Mandate: To ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights given in Constitution and UN Convention on Rights of Child.
4. NCPCR had asked to form special cells in schools to solve problems of children. The cell will examine the mental & physical torture against children. Complainsts regarding sexual harassment, mental harassment, favouritism etc. should be informed to the Taluk/District Legal Services Authority within 48 hours.
5. It is the nodal body for Right to Education and Child abuse.

Main Recommendations of NCPCR:

1. Seminars should be conducted for teachers to improve their teaching styles.
2. The dignity of a student should be accepted by everyone.
3. Drug addiction, copying, violence etc. should be curtailed.
4. State Commissions of Protection of Child Rights should be established.