CARA requires states to ensure older adoptees have access to records to obtain information about their origins

NEW DELHI: In view of the difficulties faced by adult adoptees in finding their origin information through the ‘root tracing’ process under the Adoption Regulations, 2022, the Central Adoption Resource Authority has asked states and union territories to ensure that all physical and digital records are securely preserved and transferred to designated authorities or agencies and make appropriate arrangements for long-term custody of records to facilitate future trace tracing of adoptees.In an office memorandum clarifying policy on the custody, maintenance, and transfer of child and adoptee records for future reference and root tracing purposes, CARA said, “The custody, maintenance, or lawful transfer of such records should be strictly ensured to prevent denial or obstruction of access to the records by root or older adoptees or other legitimate interested parties.”CARA said, “It was noted that problems may arise if an elderly adoptee approaches the relevant authority for repatriation as envisaged in Section 47(2) of the Adoption Regulations, 2022, but the relevant agency is unable to provide the necessary records.”The agency said it had observed that in some cases records could not be obtained because the relevant Specialist Adoption Agency (SAA) or Child Care Institution (CCI) had closed, deregistered, merged or had its functions transferred to another agency, resulting in records being lost or misplaced.In this context and to ensure consistency in implementation, Member Secretary and CEO CARA Bhavna Saxena reiterated in a memorandum that “the obligation to maintain, preserve and protect records of children and adoptees shall continue to exist irrespective of the operational status of SAA or CCI”.States and Union Territories have been told to ensure that “all physical and digital records are securely preserved and transferred to designated authorities or institutions and appropriate arrangements are made for long-term custody of the records to facilitate future root tracing of elderly adoptees”.