Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)
The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is a statutory body of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. It was established in 1990 under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, and it is responsible for promoting and regulating adoption of children in India.
The primary functions of CARA include:
- Developing policies, procedures, and guidelines related to adoption in India
- Maintaining a national database of adoptable children and prospective adoptive parents
- Coordinating with adoption agencies and facilitating inter-country adoptions
- Providing support and guidance to adoption agencies and adoptive parents
- Monitoring and regulating the functioning of adoption agencies in India
- Advocating for the welfare and protection of children who are available for adoption
CARA has been instrumental in streamlining the adoption process in India, and has taken several steps to make it more transparent, efficient, and child-friendly. These include implementing an online registration system for adoptive parents, simplifying the documentation process, and ensuring that the best interests of the child are given utmost priority.
It helps in establishing an Eligibility Criteria, Guidelines for Adoption and Documents Required with an option to Register Online.
Overall, CARA plays a critical role in ensuring that the adoption process in India is conducted in a legal, ethical, and child-centered manner, and that the welfare and best interests of children are always given the highest priority.
