India: 800 Children Died in State-Run Adoption Agencies since 2018

“More than 800 children have died in state-run specialised adoption agencies since 2018, according to official data. Of these, most are below two years old, officials said, painting a tragic picture of neglect.

The main reason for the fatalities, they explained, is unsafe abandonment , including children being found with dog bites and so vulnerable they can’t be saved.

Breaking up the numbers, the Central Adoption Resources Authority (CARA) said in response to multiple RTIs filed by PTI that 118 children, 104 of them below two, died in state and Central government-run agencies in 2021-22.

In 2020-21, the number was 169 and in 2019-20 it was 281. In 2018-19, 251 children died in the agencies, according to the data.

Of the total 819 children, 481 were girls and 129 those with special needs, defined as those who have some type of disability and require exceptional care and extra help.

Data for the number of children below two was not available.

Most specialised adoption agencies are meant for children below six years. However, they also give refuge to some older children. Children older than six are housed in child care institutions.”

Over 800 kids died in specialised adoption agencies since 2018
[East Mojo 7/12/22 by PTI]

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