Darrang deputy commissioner-cum-chairman of the District Child Protection Committee, Ghanshyam Dass, on Sunday assured of necessary measures to check illegal practices going in the name of child adoption.
Dass said the illegal practices of child adoption can be prevented by implementing the age-old parent-friendly Act like the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (HAMA) of 1956.
He added that the practice of child-friendly legal adoption under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 can safeguard the lives of children.
The DC also assured of protecting the institutions and the people, who have faced threats from those promoting illegal adoption.
Dass assured this before a delegation of the child rights organization, Crystal Vision, after a brief discussion in this regard at his office chamber.
Talking to Northeast Now on Sunday, Manabendra Baruah, secretary of Crystal Vision, informed that an 8-member delegation of the organization, led by its vice-president and senior lawyer Lutfur Rahman met the deputy commissioner on Friday.
They had a discussion on the issue of the involvement of a section of influential politicians, government officials, legal practitioners and even members of autonomous bodies formed under the Juvenile Justice Act.
“We discussed the recent scenario of child adoption in the district and the risk faced by the organization and people actually working for assuring child rights in the district before submitting a memorandum to the deputy commissioner,” said Baruah.
“We appealed to the DC to ensure child rights through legal adoption by implementing JJ Act,” he said.
“We urged him to protect the people and the institutions working for the noble cause from the possible threats posed by a section of people, who in the name encouraging and promoting private adoption for their illegal personal gain, are opening the path of illegal child trafficking,” added Baruah.
Lutfur Rahman said, “The deputy commissioner after a patient hearing assured us of taking all possible measures in regard to our prayer. We are hopeful of a new beginning of legal child adoption under the JJ Act in the district in the coming new year.”