The Supreme Court of India, in its landmark judgement in the case Laxmikant Pandey vs. Union of India directed that preference is to be given for finding a home within India for every orphaned child. The full development of a child’s potential is possible only in the care of a family, and as far as possible, such a family should be from a similar cultural milieu. As a follow-up of the judgement, the Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has framed detailed guidelines for inter-country adoption of Indian children in 1995 which are mandatory. Further, the Ministry has also circulated general guidelines for in-country adoption procedures to all States in 1998.

The Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) which was set up in 1990 under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment was registered as an autonomous body under the Registration of Societies Act on 18.03.1999 in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court with the objective of providing a detailed framework for regulating and expediting adoptions in the country. The Ministry grants recognition to both Indian and foreign agencies which are engaged in sponsoring Indian children for adoption abroad.

The Central Scheme of assistance to Homes (Shishu Grehas) for infants for promoting in-country adoption is being implemented. Grant-in-Aid is being provided by GoI to Non-Governmental Organizations for running these Shishu Grehas for promoting adoptions within the country. The upper ceiling of the grant-in-aid is Rs.6.00 lakhs for a Shishu Greha.

In Orissa there are two Placement Agencies for inter-country adoption.

There is one Voluntary Coordinating Agency (VCA) in the State to coordinate all adoption-related activities and identify and promote adoption of children who are legally free for adoption. The VCA is also required to create awareness among the general public on the legal aspects of adoption, the guidelines on adoption and the procedures prescribed is circulated by the Government of India as well as to supervise the activities of childcare institutions in this field so as to curb illegal adoptions. In case any information through the media or otherwise on child abuse etc is received, an enquiry is made by the W&CD Department or the VCA. ‘Sanjog’ an NGO has been nominated as the VCA in this State.

The State Government provides some financial support to the VCA for this purpose. The State Council for Child Welfare is the Scrutiny Agency which scrutinizes and processes applications for adoption.

There is a State Adoption Cell in the W&CD Department headed by Director, Social Welfare which monitors adoption-related activities. A State Level Executive Committee headed by the Secretary, W&CD Department also monitors/ reviews the activities of all the Agencies working in this area.

During 2004, 75 children were rehabilitated through in-country adoption and 64 through inter-country adoption while during 2005, 175 in-country and 49 inter-country adoptions have been promoted. Thus, 363 adoptions have been promoted in the State during the last two years.