Taking cognisance of the fresh instances of infant smuggling in West Bengal, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and its State counterpart have emphasised that the slow rate of adoption along with hurdles in the formal adoption system could lead to a rise in such cases.
Second incident
This is the second time in the past two months that instances of baby smuggling have surfaced in the State. While about a dozen babies were recovered by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal police in south Bengal towards 2016 end, now a fresh racket in infant smuggling has come to light in Jalpaiguri district of north Bengal.
“Why are the babies not being put up for adoption in the formal adoption scheme?” NCPCR chairperson Stuti Kacker asked.
Reports about sale of babies do come up often in the country, said Ms. Kacker, adding that the financial gains from smuggling babies were probably more than putting babies for adoption through the Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA).
On the recent smuggling racket, Ms. Kacker said the NCPCR has asked for a report from the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
“We are waiting for the State Commission report. After the report, we will send members to West Bengal,” Ms Thacker said.
‘Market and demand’
Ananya Chakraborti, chairperson of State Child Rights Commission, also spoke along similar lines. Though she highlighted the criminality of smuggling, Ms. Chakraborti said “there cannot be a market without demand”, indicated that hurdles in the formal adoption system results in parents adopting babies through other means.
To visit Jalpaiguri
Ms Chakraborti said she will soon visit Jalpaiguri to ascertain the situation.
Three persons, including Chandana Chakraborty who ran SAA homes in Jalpaiguri, have been arrested by the CID for allegedly smuggling babies from adoption homes.
