The child welfare committee in Jharkhand’s Palamu district has initiated an inquiry after authorities rescued a newborn allegedly sold to a relative for Rs 50,000.
While the child’s mother has allegedly denied selling her baby, authorities are probing allegations that money had exchanged hands.
According to news reports, the woman, a mother of four, handed over her son to her sister-in-law a week after his birth on August 9. The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) said it had “rescued” the baby Saturday after taking cognizance of media reports.
Officials said that the child’s father was a daily wager. Speaking to The Indian Express, CWC member Ravi Shankar, said: “The case reached us only after it was reported in the media. We constituted a fact-finding committee and sent members to the woman’s home in Lotwa village”.
According to officials, the family appeared to be unaware of the process of adoption.
“They assumed that if a mother does not wish to keep the child, relatives could take custody,” Shankar said.
Nilambar-Pitambar police station incharge Uttam Kumar Rai confirmed that the child had been handed back to the mother. He, however, refused to confirm if the child was sold.
No FIR has been filed in the case yet.
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“The intention, as of now, does not appear to be malicious but rather due to lack of awareness of legal adoption processes. Medical care was also provided to the child by the relative,” he said.
The woman has reportedly denied selling her child and instead citing difficulties in caregiving as the reason for giving away the baby. However, officials are probing if the child had been sold.
“The child’s father told the inquiry team that Rs 50,000 was paid by the other family but the mother denies receiving any money,” Shankar said, adding that they were also looking into whether the child was being trafficked.
According to officials, both mother and child have been receiving medical care and protection. Meanwhile, the family is undergoing counselling.
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Meanwhile, the committee has also recommended the family for financial support under the central government’s child protection scheme, Mission Vatsalya scheme.
In a post on X, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren directed the district administration to provide immediate assistance to the family.
