Ranchi: Children in need of exclusive care and protection will soon receive expert help.

Following a nudge from Jharkhand Legal Services Authority (Jhalsa), its district wing is coaching a group of 20 on foster care and sponsorship rules to end the culture of unauthorised adoptions that has come to the fore after alleged baby trafficking from Nirmal Hriday.

The Missionaries of Charity-run shelter on Jail Road here made headlines earlier this month after an arrested employee and a nun reportedly confessed to having sold newborns to childless couples in the capital and outside.

The training in adoption rules and juvenile laws started at the civil courts on Tuesday and will continue till Thursday. The trainees include members of the Juvenile Justice Board, officials of district child welfare committee and child protection unit, representatives of NGOs working for the welfare of children and para-legal volunteers.

Of the 20 participants, 10 are being trained in sponsorship rules during the daylong sessions and the rest in foster care regulations. The mentors are judicial officers, high court advocates, social welfare officers and social workers, among other experts. The training module has been prepared by Jhalsa.

Topics being covered include Nalsa (Child Friendly Legal Services) Scheme 2015, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015, Juvenile Justice Rules, Jharkhand Guidelines for Sponsorship 2018 and Jharkhand Guidelines for Foster Care 2018 and Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, besides judgment and directives of Supreme Court and Jharkhand High Court, and circulars of Union and state governments.

Secretary of district legal services authority Fahim Kirmani said the sponsorship and foster care schemes were notified by the state government in March this year.

"Under the sponsorship scheme, there is provision of providing Rs 2,000 per month per child to a biological parent who is poverty-stricken. Under the foster care scheme, foster parents/family/groups are identified to take care of children who are separated from their parents temporarily," Kirmani said.

Jharkhand High Court advocate Arti Verma, who is associated with NGO Asha that takes care of 200 children, said this was the first time such a training was being organised.

"Foster care and sponsorship has always been a matter of concern for those working with children in need of care and protection. It is good this programme is being organised," said Verma, who imparted lessons on role and responsibility of foster parents.