Turning the tide: choosing safe surrender over abandonment
As per Indian law, parents or guardians who are unwilling or unable to raise a child, can legally surrender a child for adoption. They can approach their nearest Specialised Adoption Agency (India map is clickable by State), which will guide them on surrendering the child in front of the district’s Child Protection Committee. The family gets a 2-month reconsideration period, after which the child is declared legally free for adoption. No long processes. No police reports. No newspaper publications. No searching for family. No loss of time. This is the best option for children to reach a permanent family.
Which is why WAIC runs a Safe Surrender Awareness Program. Our social workers sensitize Anganwadi workers, youth groups, and other grassroot community workers about safe surrender. So far, we have educated 2600+ community stakeholders in districts across Maharashtra, Telangana, and Karnataka.
We need to do more. A lot more. If you have access to grassroot organizations that reach people at scale, connect us! If you have the skill and/or the opportunity to spread the word about safe surrender, contact us!
As always, please keep supporting WAIC and keep sharing our work with your network.
