In a progressive move, the Assam government has announced a new policy granting a 180-day Child Adoption Leave for women employees across all state government departments. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared this significant decision following a cabinet meeting, stating that the policy aligns with Rule 43-B of the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972.
The policy will help all the mothers to provide proper care and nourishment to their children below the age of one. Furthermore, it aims to support female employees of the state government who adopt children under the age of one, ensuring they can provide adequate care during the critical early months of adoption.
In a related development, Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati highlighted a gap between registration and adoption during a recent Supreme Court hearing on adoption rules. Between 2021 and 2023, 19,424 adoptions occurred under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act (HAMA), while 4,029 children were adopted in 2023-24 through the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court directed 13 Indian states and Union territories, including Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Arunachal Pradesh, to establish specialised adoption agencies by 30 August, in compliance with a previous court order.
