Move Abandoned Children into Adoption in India

We submitted the report of our Vulnerability Mapping and Alternative Care Awareness Project to the Directorate of Child Protection, Government of Madhya Pradesh in February, 2021. We had trained almost 8000 Anganwadi Workers in 4 districts on child protection and alternative care as part of this pilot project (as mentioned in our previous report). The report was received well and we were asked to draft guidelines for a statewide vulnerability mapping project which would be conducted by the state in the coming weeks. The guidelines have been drafted and submitted by us. The Directorate of Child Protection, Government of Karnataka has also approached us to help them conduct a similar exercise.

India at present is facing a very difficult situation with lakhs of COVID cases being reported every day. There are reports of several children losing either or both of their parents due to COVID. There have also been cases of children not having any one to take care of them while the parents are admitted in the hospital due to COVID, or are involved in caring for others who are infected. Such children are at a risk of harm or trafficking unless they are provided with necessary support. We are presently mobilising resources and connecting with other organizations and networks to ensure information of such children are passed on to Childline and district child welfare authorities for appropriate action. There have also been reports of children who have lost both parents to COVID being offered for adoption without following necessary legal processes. We plan to create awareness posters and organise sessions on the process of legal adoption for general awareness.