The administration of Jammu & Kashmir has set-up an adoption resource agency to deal with adoption and related matters in the Union Territory.The seven-member Jammu & Kashmir Adoption Resource Agency (JKARA) would deal with adoption and related matters in the UT under the guidance of the Central Adoption Resource Agency constituted in terms of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the government said in an order, a copy of which is lying with the news agencyHeaded by secretary Social Welfare department, the JKARA comprises mission director, Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), director, Health Services Jammu/ Kashmir, one member of the State Legal Services Authority, chairperson of a child welfare committee (CWC), representative of specialized adoption agency and a member for civil society involved in child welfare and protection for at least 10 years.According to the order, the agency would function as the executive arm of the Jammu and Kashmir government for promotion, facilitation, monitoring and regulation of the adoption programme in the UT.It will also perform such functions as are prescribed under adoption regulations, 2017 issued by the Ministry of Child Development. It will also carry out such other functions as may be assigned by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) from time to time.The JKARA has been constituted under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 which became applicable to J&K from October 31, 2019.(KNO)
