The Nagaland Adoption Awareness Programme on “Promoting Non-Institutionalized Rehabilitation of Children with Special Needs (Divyaang Children)” organized by the State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) under Mission Vatsalya, Department of Social Welfare, was held at the Auditorium Hall, SIRD Kohima on April 8, 2026.
The programme witnessed participation from stakeholders across all 17 districts of Nagaland, including representatives from the District Administration, Chief Medical Officers (CMO), District Child Protection Units (DCPU), Specialized Adoption Agencies (SAA), Department of Social Welfare, SARA, State Child Protection Society (SCPS) and Child Welfare Committees (CWC). The programme brought together officials and participants to promote awareness on inclusive adoption and the importance of family-based care for children with special needs.
T. Aoakhum Longchar, Additional Director, Department of Social Welfare, in his address, described the programme as a step towards building a more inclusive and compassionate society. He emphasized that Divyaang children should be recognized for their abilities and potential, not their limitations. Highlighting adoption as an act of love, compassion and hope, he stated that it not only gives a child a family but also transforms lives. He called on society to replace judgment with understanding, promote responsible adoption and ensure that every child grows up with dignity, care and equal opportunities.
Yongchingkumla, Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, in her keynote address, stressed that the greatest challenges faced by Divyaang children often stem from social attitudes and lack of awareness rather than their disabilities. She emphasized that inclusive education and equal opportunities are moral responsibilities, not just policies. Addressing adoption, she highlighted the need to break misconceptions and emphasized that family is built on love not biology. She called for greater awareness, empathy and collective responsibility to create a society where every child is valued, empowered and given a place to belong.
A short film titled “Not Perfect but Precious” was screened during the programme. The film delivered a powerful message on acceptance, love and the importance of giving every child a chance to grow in a family environment.
During the open session, Nikito Zhimomi, DCPO Chumoukedima and N.T. Kikon, Managing Director, Wondang-Ki Charitable Foundation (SAA), presented an overview of the district-level scenario concerning children with special needs. They highlighted ongoing initiatives, shared best practices in promoting non-institutionalized rehabilitation and discussed key challenges. The speakers also outlined future plans focusing on strengthening community-based care, enhancing coordination among stakeholders and encouraging adoption to ensure that children with special needs grow up in nurturing family environments.
During the technical session, Ritu Rani Bhankur, Junior Professional, CARA, delivered a detailed PowerPoint presentation on the Adoption Regulations 2022, with special emphasis on provisions for children with special needs. The presentation highlighted the legal framework, procedural safeguards and best practices for ensuring transparent and ethical adoption. She addressed common grievances of prospective adoptive parents (PAPs), including delays, documentation challenges and access to accurate information, offering clarifications and solutions to streamline the adoption process.
She also highlighted the roles of key stakeholders, explaining that district administration and DCPOs coordinate and monitor adoption, CMOs handle health assessments, DCPUs support child identification and parent counselling, SAAs manage adoption services and follow-up while SARA, SCPS and CWCs provide policy guidance, technical support and legal oversight to ensure every child’s rights and well-being are protected.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Renchumi Imti, Programme Manager, SARA, who expressed sincere gratitude to Ritu Rani Bhankur, Junior Professional, CARA, along with all esteemed speakers and participants for their valuable contributions and acknowledged the efforts of SARA, SCPS and DCPU teams while encouraging everyone to translate the day’s insights into meaningful action for the welfare of children with special needs, ending with a collective call to strengthen awareness, encourage adoption and promote non-institutionalized rehabilitation for the holistic development and well-being of Divyaang children.
(DIPR)
