Imphal, July 20: Majority of the medical and paramedical personnel in Manipur are hardly aware of the legal aspect of allowing an 'unwanted' child to be adopted , or for that matter even the existence of a Central regulatory body like Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA).

This startling revelation came to light during the course of a two-day State level sensitisation programme on child adoption which concluded at State Guest House here today.

The programme gains significance in the backdrop of rising reported cases of child trafficking in the State with lower staff in hospitals and private clinics unwittingly or wittingly coming a part of the conduit in 'disposing of unwanted child' delivered in their hospitals or clinics without proper verification and recommended legal procedure.

Organised jointly by Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) which is under the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development and Manipur State Committee on Promotion of Legal Adoption, medical and paramedical personnel working in various Government hospitals as well as private clinics and social workers working on child issues coming from different parts of the State participated in the programme.

Sharing their experience and knowledge gained, the medical practitioners admitted that they were not fully aware of the legal aspect of adoption before attending the programme.

One of the medical officer even confessed that after attending the programme he realised that the girl child he had adopted was illegal from the legal point of view and he could be penalised for that.

Among other resource persons who conducted the programme, Dr Nilima Mehta of CARA enlightened the participants on the illegal adoption and its impact on child rights as well as on the role of medical and paramedical practitioners in adoption, Deputy Director of CARA Dr Jaganath Pati on legal adoption practice, advocate I Vikramjeet Singh on the applicable laws and appropriate judicial forum for in-country adoption and Secretary of IWCDC Annie Mangatabam on the roles of Children Homes and adoption agencies in adoption.

Dr Nilima observed that in recognising every child's rights to be brought up in a nurturing family environment, all the Government policies, national legislations, programme interventions and strategies need to be harmonised with the UN convention on the rights of the child.

Dr Jaganath Pati explained that pre-adoption counselling to assess suitability and proper verification of not just financial but also the emotional status of the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) is essential for ensure the future of the adopted child.

Annie Mangatabam pointed out that legal adoption is best means of rehabilitation and social integration of orphaned, abandoned, reliquished childre.

The valedictory function was attended by Director of RIMS Prof L Fimate as chief guest, Director of Health Services Dr W Motilal as president and Jt Director of Social Welfare Saratkumar Sharma and IWCDC secretary Annie Mangatabam as guests of honour.

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