Three-month-old baby adopted by Koraput couple

Berhampur: A three-month-old baby girl found her home after a Koraput-based couple legally adopted her, two months after being surrendered by her unwed mother in Gajapati district's R.Udayagiri block. 

In a brief ceremony held at Paralakhemundi on Wednesday, Gajapati collector Bijay Chandra Dash officially handed over the infant to the couple, following the Central Adoption Resources Authority (CARA) guidelines. The couple, who run a business in Kolkata, had waited nearly three years for this moment after registering with CARA, an autonomous statutory body under the ministry of women and child welfare. 

"The baby was surrendered to the district administration when she was just 20 days old, as her unwed mother was unable to care for her," said district child protection officer (DCPO) Arun Kumar Tripathy, who was present at the ceremony along with officials from the child care home where the infant had been provided shelter. 

This adoption marks a significant milestone for Gajapati district's specialized adoption agency, established in 2018. "Since its inception, we have facilitated 63 successful adoptions, placing children with families both within India and abroad," Tripathy added. 

The child care institute near Paralakhemundi had been the baby's temporary home until her adoption. The new parents expressed joy and gratitude upon receiving their long-awaited daughter.