The Mumbai Suburban district administration has completed the legal adoption process for 25 children in a single day, according to a report by Loksatta, in what officials described as the first such simultaneous adoption exercise in Mumbai. The process was conducted through three specialised adoption agencies in the district under the guidelines of the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).
The children, aged between zero and six years, were placed with their adoptive parents after the required legal procedures, eligibility checks, documentation and medical examinations were completed. The initiative was undertaken to move children from institutional care into safe and permanent family environments, the report said.
The adoption process includes the registration and care of children who are surrendered by parents or found in public places and government hospitals. Before a child can be declared legally free for adoption, authorities must complete documentation, medical assessments and other statutory requirements. The child’s details are then updated on the central adoption portal.
Prospective adoptive parents are required to register online. After eligibility and priority assessments, the process involves verification by a committee of the specialised adoption agency, the district child protection officer, representatives of social organisations, doctors and the prospective parents. The procedure is designed to assess both the safety of the child and the capacity of the prospective family to provide long-term care.
The report said the process had earlier involved court proceedings, while district collectors have now been given powers to complete adoption orders. The change, effective from May 4, has helped accelerate the online process, according to the district administration. The report did not provide details of the specific legal orders or the individual adoption cases.
District Collector Saurabh Katiyar said coordination among departments had been important in completing the process. Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare had coordinated with the relevant departments, according to the report.
Adoption procedures can take considerable time because of legal requirements, eligibility verification, medical checks and documentation. The district administration’s account said delays had discouraged some prospective parents and contributed to longer waiting periods. It also said the simultaneous completion of 25 cases demonstrated the importance of making the process more efficient while retaining safeguards for children.
The adoption process for the 25 children was completed after the required verification and legal formalities, with the children subsequently handed over to their adoptive parents, according to the district administration as quoted by Loksatta.
