Awareness Program Highlights Legal Adoption Process and Risks of Unauthorised Practices

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) is urging the public to support only legal adoptions of children.

During an awareness program titled "Unauthorised Adoptions and Legal Actions" held at King George Hospital (KGH) on Tuesday, APSCPCR Chairperson Kesali Apparao and member Gondu Sitaram emphasized the importance of following legal procedures.

The event, co-organized by the APSCPCR and KGH, was attended by gynaecologists, pediatricians, and nursing, security, and paramedical staff. Jayadevi, the ICDS Project Director, presented the Union government's guidelines for official adoptions through a PowerPoint presentation.

In their address, Apparao and Sitaram highlighted the prevalent misconception that children can be adopted directly from hospitals. They detailed the commission's efforts to conduct extensive awareness programs in major district hospitals across the state to dispel these myths and educate the public on legal guidelines, government orders, laws, penalties, and fines.

They also stressed the necessity of continuous CCTV surveillance and vigilant security in all government maternity and children's wards to prevent child abduction. Recommendations and suggestions have been submitted to the state government to enhance these security measures.

Apparao and Sitaram outlined the Union government's seven-step process for legal adoptions and urged hospital staff to educate prospective adoptive parents on this procedure.

They also called on doctors and staff to disseminate information about the government's support for those who wish to give up their children, encouraging the use of helplines 1098, 181, or 100 instead of abandoning children.

KGH Superintendent Dr. P. Shivanand assured attendees that the hospital will conduct extensive awareness programs on the CARA Act, the consequences of unauthorized adoptions, and related legal issues, following the APSCPCR's directives and recommendations.

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