The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), operating under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, held an adoption awareness workshop in Imphal, Manipur on 23 September 2026. The event brought together 150 stakeholders from multiple sectors to discuss how to prevent illegal adoption and strengthen legal, safe practices that centre the child’s welfare.
The workshop was organised jointly with the Manipur State Adoption Resource Agency and the state’s Department of Social Welfare. It highlighted the risks and consequences of unregulated adoption while promoting the statutory adoption process as the only safe pathway for children needing care.
Key facts
- Workshop held on 23 September 2026 in Imphal, Manipur
- Around 150 participants attended from diverse sectors
- Theme: “Legal Adoption. Safe Childhood. Secure Future. Say No to Illegal Adoption”
- Organised by CARA in collaboration with Manipur State Adoption Resource Agency and Department of Social Welfare
- Participants included police, hospitals, courts, child welfare committees, health workers and civil society groups
What is CARA and why this matters
CARA is the nodal agency in India responsible for regulating and monitoring adoption. The organisation ensures that adoptions follow the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and the rules made under it. Illegal adoption undermines child protection by removing safeguards, creating vulnerability to exploitation and severing legal accountability. Awareness workshops like this one aim to equip officials, healthcare workers and community members to recognise and report irregular adoptions.
Who attended and what they discussed
The workshop brought together child welfare committees, district child protection units, state adoption agencies, children’s homes, health departments, police anti-human trafficking units, judiciary members, legal services authorities, ASHA and ANM workers, and media representatives. This mix ensured that the discussion covered adoption from multiple angles: legal compliance, law enforcement, medical ethics, child protection and public awareness.
Participants were divided into four working groups. One focused on police and anti-human trafficking units. Another brought together medical professionals, nurses and Anganwadi workers. A third group included legal and judiciary representatives alongside child welfare committees. The fourth comprised state adoption agencies, child protection officers and children’s homes. Each group reviewed how their sector currently approaches adoption, identified gaps in awareness and coordination, and proposed practical measures to strengthen prevention, detection and response to illegal adoption.
Key messages from the workshop
The Director of Manipur’s Social Welfare Department stressed that protecting children from illegal adoption requires coordinated action across all institutions. An official from CARA stated that “preventing illegal adoption requires vigilance and coordinated action at every level,” emphasising that no single agency can address this alone.
A real-world experience session was conducted by a manager from Manipur’s State Adoption Agency, who shared practical lessons from investigating suspected cases of illegal adoption. This highlighted how field-level child protection staff play a vital frontline role in catching irregular arrangements and protecting vulnerable children.
The workshop also screened a fictional film about legal adoption to illustrate the authorised process and warn of dangers outside it. Children from the State Bal Bhavan performed a short play promoting family-based care, reinforcing the message that children need safe, nurturing family environments.
What this means for you
If you are a parent considering adoption, this workshop’s message is clear: use only legal, authorised channels. Contact your state adoption agency or CARA to understand the proper process, which includes background checks, home studies and judicial oversight to ensure the child’s safety and your family’s suitability.
If you work in healthcare, police, courts, social welfare or child protection, the workshop underscores your responsibility to watch for signs of illegal adoption and report them to the proper authorities. This includes unusual cases where children change guardianship without court involvement or proper documentation.
If you are a citizen concerned about a child’s welfare, you now know that legal adoption protects children through transparency and accountability. Reporting suspected illegal adoption to local police or child protection authorities can prevent harm.
What happens next
The workshop concluded with participants committing to strengthen vigilance and coordination in Manipur’s adoption ecosystem. The recommendations from the four working groups will likely inform how different agencies improve their coordination, information-sharing and adherence to statutory procedures in adoption cases going forward.