Orientation on Adoption Regulations 2022 held in Nagaland as Limawabang urges collective efforts for child welfare and adoption reforms.
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KOHIMA — Secretary of Social Welfare department and Mission Director, Mission Vatsalya, Limawabang, on Thursday called for collective efforts to uphold the spirit of care, protection, and hope that adoption represents.
The secretary was addressing a ‘One-day orientation and training programme on Adoption Regulations, 2022 for Nagaland,’ sponsored by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) under the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The programme was organised by the State Adoption Resource Authority (SARA), Mission Vatsalya, Department of Social Welfare, Nagaland, and was held at the Auditorium Hall, SIRD Nagaland.
Limawabang stated that adoption is not merely a legal process; it is a compassionate act that transforms lives—giving children the warmth of a loving family and fulfilling the dreams of prospective parents.
The Adoption Regulations, 2022, introduced under the Juvenile Justice framework, aim to make the process more transparent, efficient, and child-centric.
At the heart of these regulations lies a powerful principle—that the best interest of the child is paramount in every adoption decision. This ensures that every child is placed in a safe, secure, and nurturing environment where their overall development is protected, he stated.
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Highlighting key aspects, he stated that the regulations emphasise promoting in-country adoption, giving preference to placing children within their own socio-cultural environment; ensuring transparency and accountability through digital systems and centralised registration, strengthening the role of authorities like district magistrates to speed up the adoption process and reduce delays and safeguarding children through strict procedures, monitoring, and post-adoption follow-ups.
These reforms reflect the government’s commitment to ensuring that every child has the right to grow up in a loving and secure family environment, he stated.
Tosheli Zhimomi, Director of the Social Welfare Department and CEO and Member Secretary of SARA, in her introductory address, outlined the objectives of the programme.
She described the Adoption Regulations, 2022 as a progressive step towards ensuring the welfare, protection, and rights of children in need of care and a loving family.
She stated that adoption is not merely a legal process but an act of compassion, responsibility, and hope. The regulations, framed under the Juvenile Justice Act, aim to simplify, streamline, and strengthen the adoption process in India while ensuring that the best interests of the child remain paramount.
Zhimomi said that one of the primary objectives of the regulations is to ensure transparency and accountability in the adoption process.
By digitising procedures and strengthening monitoring systems, the regulations reduce delays and eliminate irregularities, making the system more trustworthy for prospective adoptive parents, she added.
She pointed out that another key objective is to prioritise the best interest of the child adding that every decision- from matching a child with parents to post-adoption follow-ups is guided by the principle that a child deserves a safe, stable, and nurturing environment.
The director elaborated that the regulations also aim to reduce the time taken in adoption procedures. She said, earlier, long waiting periods discouraged many families; the 2022 reforms introduce stricter timelines for various stages, ensuring that children are placed in families without unnecessary delays.
She further stated that the implementation of the adoption regulations in Nagaland is being carried out judiciously. Over the years, loving families have been found for hundreds of children in need of care and protection (including orphans, abandoned, surrendered, and destitute children).
Informing that from April 2025 to March 2026, a total of 11 children in need of care and protection were adopted—eight through in-country adoption and three through inter-country adoption.
Ritu Rani Bhankur, junior professional, CARA, informed that during the last financial year, CARA facilitated over 5,000 adoptions. She emphasised that proper implementation is crucial to ensure that every adoption process is conducted legally, ethically, and in the best interest of the child.
She also called for the commitment of all stakeholders, emphasising that their roles are crucial in providing children with safe and loving families.
The formal programme was chaired by Kekuolhuno Nakhro, programme officer, SARA.
During the technical sessions, Sekho Dawhuo, DCPO Kohima, led the programme, while Ritu Rani Bhankur served as the resource person.
She spoke on “Adoption Regulations 2022”, “Relative Adoption, Step-parent Adoption, and Foster Care”, “Roles and Responsibilities, Documentation of SAA & CWC”, and “New CARINGS integration in Mission Vatsalya Portal”.