Minister for Health K.K. Shylaja on Friday visited a three-month-old infant who was rescued by the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare from a couple who had brought her from Tamil Nadu on payment of money.
The Minister expressed concern over rackets in sale and purchase of children in many parts of the country. Often these children were abused and mistreated. Stringent action should be taken to prevent sale and purchase of children, the Minister said.
The baby girl was brought by a couple at Vallakkadavu from a hospital in Tamil Nadu. After suspicious neighbours called the welfare council’s toll-free number 1517, an inquiry was conducted and a report submitted to the Child Welfare Committee. The child was rescued with the support of the Valiathura police, and the council was entrusted with her care. The couple admitted to the police that they had paid money for the girl. The police have registered cases against the couple and the middlemen.
