Telangana govt to set up 18 new adoption centres

HYDERABAD: The Telangana govt has decided to set up 18 additional special adoption agencies (SAAs) and two new children’s homes across the state. The move aims to strengthen child welfare infrastructure and streamline the adoption process.On Friday, women and child welfare minister D Seethakka signed the proposal after all formalities were finalised. The administrative process for setting up the centres will commence once chief minister A Revanth Reddy grants final approval.Currently, 17 adoption centres are operational in 15 districts. With the addition of the new agencies, the total number of adoption centres in Telangana will rise to 35.The Centre has already cleared the proposal, and the state has projected an annual budget of ₹5.44 crore for the new centres. Of this, 60% ( ₹3.26 crore) will be borne by the Centre and remaining 40% ( ₹2.17 crore) by the state.To operate these centres, the govt will recruit 228 staff members on an outsourcing basis. Officials said the expansion would strengthen the safety net for homeless and abandoned children.The govt is also enforcing strict measures to curb child trafficking and illegal adoptions. Setting up SAAs and children’s homes is part of a broader strategy to improve child protection across Telangana, officials said.