The State Child Welfare Committee of Kerala has set a remarkable record by facilitating the adoption of 100 children within just one and a half years, following the new administration’s takeover in February 2023. This achievement was marked on Friday when seven children completed their adoption procedures at the Thiruvananthapuram adoption center.
Of the 100 children, 17 were adopted internationally, with placements in the United States (5), Italy (4), Denmark (4), UAE (3), and Sweden (1). Additionally, 49 children were adopted by families within Kerala, while 34 were taken in by families from other states, including 19 from Tamil Nadu.
General Secretary G L Arun Gopi credited the success to the committee’s effective management of the ‘Ammathottil’ program, which provides protection for abandoned children, and the streamlined online adoption process through the Central Adoption Resource Authority. The shift to online procedures has increased international interest, especially for children with special needs, with eight such adoptions occurring this year.
Currently, 217 children are under the committee’s care across various centers. Funding for their care comes from Children’s Day stamp sales and donations. The committee is also running the ‘Tharattu’ campaign to promote adoption and remove the stigma associated with being an orphan.
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