During my recent field visit to the Kinship Care and Sponsorship Programme in Govindpuri, New Delhi, I met families whose resilience left a profound impression on me. I visited small, overcrowded homes where widowed mothers were raising two or three children with remarkable courage despite extreme hardship. Their dreams were simple yet powerful—to educate their…

Introduction The twenty-first century is characterised by remarkable advances in science, technology, and global connectivity. At the same time, it faces growing challenges arising from violent conflict, social polarisation, discrimination, extremism, misinformation, and the rapid spread of hate through digital platforms. These realities demonstrate that education must extend beyond preparing individuals for employment and economic…

Childhood is not merely a stage of life; it is the foundation on which the entire future of a human being rests. Modern neuroscience confirms that the first few years of life are a period of extraordinary brain development, during which experiences shape the architecture of the developing brain. By the age of three, nearly…

Over the years, I have had the privilege of visiting numerous child care institutions across India and interacting with children from diverse backgrounds. During one such interaction with a group of older children, I asked them what support would help them prepare for their future. Most spoke about education, jobs, vocational training, financial independence and…

In India, the statutory process for adopting a young child with a normal health status frequently entails a waiting period of three to four years. Prospective adoptive parents may therefore approach this process with sustained patience, psychological preparedness, and a disposition of genuine openness. It is important to recognise that adoption, in its contemporary context,…

What makes someone a sibling? Blood — or the years of shared life, shared meals, and shared tears that no law fully captures? In Lakshmi Kant Pandey v. Union of India, the Supreme Court of India in the year 1984 made an observation that remains strikingly progressive even today: “Brothers and sisters and other children…

Bombay High Court Upholds Adoption Orders by District Magistrates under the Juvenile Justice Amendment Act, 2021 (Order of the Court dtd 4.5.2026) One of the most significant reforms introduced through the 2021 amendment to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, was the transfer of authority for issuing adoption orders from courts…

It was truly meaningful to visit the Nandamma Moses Charitable Trust in Visakhapatnam and witness quiet yet powerful work being done with strong community support. Established in 2006, the Trust provides medical care and compassionate support to underprivileged children and patients suffering from TB, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other chronic conditions. What stands out is not…

No two children arrive at the same place at the same time. Many carry invisible wounds—grief, fear, and silence shaped by neglect, loss, or trauma. Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, such children are recognised as being in need of care and protection, and the law mandates a response rooted…

I have visited several child care institutions across the country and have seen a wide spectrum—from well-resourced to modest setups—all striving to serve children in need of care and protection. Not all CCIs receive government grants, yet many continue through community support, individual generosity, and a shared sense of trust that sustains their work. Across…

In today’s increasingly complex world, older children—especially those in schools and child care institutions (CCIs)—are navigating stress, emotional challenges, and uncertainty at an early age. We often focus on academic outcomes, but are we equally investing in their inner well-being?The Global Conference of Meditation Leaders, held recently in New Delhi, offered a compelling vision: integrating…

Openness in adoption evolves through a complex interaction of individual experiences, relationships, and the wider system in which adoption takes place. At the individual level, an adoptee’s stage of development, curiosity about identity, and emotional readiness influence the desire for information or contact. Adoptive parents’ sense of security and understanding of the child’s needs, as…