State adoption resource agency directorate of child protection Hyderabad telangana

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State Adoption Resource Agency Directorate of Child Protection Hyderabad Telangana contact address

Here is the information on the Telangana State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) - Directorate of Child Protection, Hyderabad:

Telangana State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA)

Under: Directorate of Women Development & Child Welfare Department, Government of Telangana
Address: D.No. 8-3-222, Vengal Rao Nagar, State Home Premises, Ameerpet (Behind Sarathi / Sharadhi Studio), Yousufguda Road, Hyderabad, Telangana - 500038
Joint Director (mobile): 09440814456

What is SARA?

The State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) is the state-level nodal body for adoption, functioning under the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India. SARA coordinates and monitors all adoption-related activities within the state, including:
  • Overseeing Recognised Indian Placement Agencies (RIPAs)
  • Managing Shishu Grehs (child care institutions for infants)
  • Maintaining child adoption registers
  • Liaising with District Child Protection Units (DCPUs)

District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) - Hyderabad

For district-level child protection matters:
  • Contact: Mr. Md. Imtyaz Rahim
  • Phone: 040-23202351
  • Email: dcpuhyderabad@gmail.com
  • Address: District Child Protection Unit, District Women and Child Welfare Agency, Chiraag Ali Lane, Collectorate Premises, Hyderabad

Related Child Protection Helplines

ServiceContact
CHILDLINE (24x7 free helpline for children)1098
Women Helpline181

Note: The contact details above are sourced from CARA's official annual reports (2018-19, 2020-21) and may have been updated since. For the most current information, visit cara.wcd.gov.in or contact the Telangana WD&CW department directly.

The juvenile justice care and protection of children act 2015

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Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act 2015 key provisions summary India

Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015

Background

The JJ Act 2015 was passed by the Parliament of India and came into force on 15 January 2016. It replaced the earlier Juvenile Justice Act of 2000. The Act was triggered largely by public outrage following the December 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case in Delhi, where one of the accused was a juvenile aged 17. It is India's primary legal framework for child protection and juvenile justice.
The Act was subsequently amended in 2021 to strengthen adoption procedures and district-level monitoring.

Key Definitions

TermDefinition
ChildAny person below the age of 18 years
Child in Conflict with Law (CICL)A child alleged or found to have committed an offence
Child in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP)Orphaned, abandoned, surrendered, abused, trafficked, or neglected children
Heinous OffenceOffence with minimum punishment of 7 years or more
Serious OffenceOffence with punishment between 3-7 years
Petty OffenceOffence with maximum punishment up to 3 years

Structure of the Act

The Act has 112 sections organized into chapters covering:
  1. Preliminary definitions
  2. Juvenile Justice Board (JJB)
  3. Child Welfare Committee (CWC)
  4. Rehabilitation and Social Re-integration
  5. Adoption
  6. Child Care Institutions
  7. Offences and Penalties
  8. Miscellaneous provisions

Key Provisions

1. Children in Conflict with Law (CICL)

  • Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) is constituted in every district with a Metropolitan/Judicial Magistrate + 2 social workers (one of whom must be a woman).
  • Juveniles aged 16-18 years committing heinous offences can be assessed by the JJB for trial as adults - this was the most controversial change from the 2000 Act.
  • The JJB conducts a Preliminary Assessment (Sec. 15) to determine if the child had the mental and physical capacity to commit the offence and understand its consequences.
  • Bail is the default for a child in conflict with law (not jail).
  • Death penalty and life imprisonment without possibility of release are strictly prohibited for any child.
  • Maximum sentence for a child tried as a juvenile is 3 years in a place of safety.

2. Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP)

  • Child Welfare Committee (CWC) must be constituted in every district - a chairperson + 4 members (at least one woman).
  • Any person finding a child in need of care must report to the CWC (mandatory reporting under Sec. 32).
  • Non-reporting is an offence under Sec. 33-34.
  • CWC can order restoration to family, foster care, sponsorship, adoption, or institutional care.

3. Adoption (Sec. 56-73)

  • The Act created a universally applicable adoption law for all Indians, superseding the religion-specific Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act (1956).
  • All adoptions must be routed through CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) via the CARINGS portal.
  • Orphaned, abandoned, and surrendered children are declared legally free for adoption by the CWC.
  • Parents surrendering a child are given 60 days reconsideration period (previously 1 month).
  • Disabled children and those with special needs are given priority in adoption.
  • Adoption without following prescribed procedures is punishable (Sec. 80).

4. Foster Care (Sec. 44) - New Introduction

  • Introduced foster care in India for the first time through legislation.
  • Families register for foster care; the state monitors them and provides financial support.
  • For children who cannot be adopted or restored to their families.

5. Child Care Institutions (Sec. 41-52)

  • All Child Care Institutions (CCIs) must be registered under the Act.
  • Includes observation homes, special homes, children's homes, shelter homes, open shelters, and places of safety.
  • Non-registration of CCIs is an offence (Sec. 42).

6. Rehabilitation and Social Re-integration (Sec. 39-40)

  • Focus on non-institutional care - adoption, foster care, sponsorship preferred over institutionalization.
  • Individual care plans for every child.
  • Restoration to family is the first priority wherever safe.

Offences and Penalties Under the Act

OffencePunishment
Cruelty to a child (Sec. 75)Up to 3 years imprisonment and/or fine
Employment for begging (Sec. 76)Up to 5 years + fine
Giving intoxicating liquor/drugs to a child (Sec. 77)Up to 7 years + Rs. 1 lakh fine
Using a child for drug peddling (Sec. 78)Up to 7 years + fine
Exploitation of child employee (Sec. 79)Up to 5 years + fine
Illegal adoption (Sec. 80)Up to 3 years + Rs. 1 lakh fine
Sale/procurement of a child (Sec. 81)Up to 5 years + Rs. 1 lakh fine
Corporal punishment in child care institutionRs. 50,000 fine or 3 years imprisonment
Disclosure of child's identity in media (Sec. 74)Punishable offence

Institutional Framework

BodyRole
CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority)National body overseeing adoptions
SARA (State Adoption Resource Agency)State-level coordination of adoptions
JJB (Juvenile Justice Board)Adjudicates cases of children in conflict with law
CWC (Child Welfare Committee)Decides cases of children in need of care & protection
DCPU (District Child Protection Unit)District-level implementation
Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU)Police unit dedicated to juvenile matters

2021 Amendment - Key Changes

The Juvenile Justice (Amendment) Act, 2021 brought important changes:
  • District Magistrates (DMs) were given powers to authorize adoptions instead of courts, to speed up the process.
  • DMs and Additional DMs are empowered to perform the functions of the CWC for adoption orders.
  • Stronger monitoring of CCI registrations at the district level.

Constitutional Basis

The Act is grounded in India's constitutional provisions:
  • Article 15(3) - State can make special provisions for children
  • Article 21A - Right to free and compulsory education (6-14 years)
  • Article 39(e) & (f) - Children not to be abused; childhood protected against exploitation
  • Article 45 - Free and compulsory education for children
  • Article 47 - Duty of state to raise health and nutrition standards
India is also a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1989), which guides the spirit of the Act.

Key Principle

The entire Act is governed by the principle of the "best interests of the child" - every decision by every authority under the Act must give primary consideration to what is best for the child's development, safety, and well-being.
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