The center has set a target of 50,000 orphan children to be adopted by December next year. Speaking at a National Conference of the State Ministers and Secretaries in New Delhi, Women and child development minister Ms Maneka Gandhi said adoption rate in the country is shameful. <br/><br/>The minister pointed out that one reason people go for illegal adoption is because legal agencies trouble them a lot. The minister directed the state governments to work effectively so that 50,000 orphans will be adopted by the end of next year.<br/><br/>The minister also said there should be state adoption resource agencies in every districts of the country. Mrs Gandhi said the Child Welfare Committees which are not functioning properly should be immediately shut down. The two day conference has been organized to review with the States and UTs, the implementation of various schemes of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. <br/><br/>During the meeting the issues related to adoption and mandatory registration of Child Care Institutions, Special Mahila Police Officers Scheme, Women Welfare Committee, One Stop Centres, ICDS implementation will be discussed in detail.