Even as forensic results are awaited to establish a case of female infanticide, the death of a girl child in Marandahalli village has brought back into focus Dharmapuri's bizarre history of being a district that was notorious for female foeticide and infanticide.
Though there has been a decline in the trend since the introduction of the Cradle Baby Scheme in this district in 2002, female infanticide is still sporadic in some pockets, say public health authorities.
The scheme, started by the AIADMK government in Salem district in 1992, encouraged people to leave the newborn in the cradle outside government homes or hospitals instead of killing them.
Sporadic
From then on, the rate of infanticides came down steadily. As on March 31 this year, the strength of the babies at the cradle baby home was 1,338 and they included 1,272 girl children, according to social welfare officials.
Deputy Director of Health Services V. Vijayalakshmi says female infanticide is sporadic in some pockets of Palacode, Pennagaram, Pappireddipatti and Harur in the district. Last year alone, 18 cases were reported in the district through Village Health Nurses. It had, however, dropped to this level from 1002 in 1998. The Maraandaalli case was the first to be reported this year.
District Social Welfare Officer K. Anbazhagan says the district administration is taking all efforts to prevent female infanticide and child marriages in the district through various awareness programmes. Recently, the department conducted cultural programmes at 10 places to create awareness of female infanticide, child marriages and other social issues.
In the latest case of suspected infanticide, the first this year in Dharmapuri, the administration has ordered Tahsildar of Palacode D.V. Madhavan to inquire.
Based on a complaint lodged by the local VAO, the Marandaalli Police registered a case on Friday.
The body was exhumed in the presence of the Tahsildhar and Inspector A. Sathish Kumar in the evening. Only samples were taken for forensic analysis as the body had decomposed.
Mr. Sathish Kumar told The Hindu that prima facie a case of infanticide could be established only on the basis of the reports received from the forensic laboratory.
A case has been registered under Sections 315 (intent to prevent a child being born alive or to cause it to die after birth) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to shield offender) of the Indian Penal Code.
