'Poverty not sole reason for sale of baby girls'

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JULY 26. The incidence of sale of baby girls reported from Chincholi in Gulbarga is attributable more to the practice among the Lamani men of contracting too many marriages and having a number of children whom they cannot maintain, according to the Minister for Women and Child Welfare, Ms.Motamma.

She was replying to a point raised on Wednesday in the Legislative Assembly about the sale of baby girls in Chincholi. She said this practice of contracting a number of marriages should be put an end to by Lamani men, and family planning should be made compulsory for them so that women did not find themselves in distress. Poverty was not the sole reason for sale of baby girls, she said.

Earlier, the Home Minister, Mr.Mallikarjuna Kharge,who was replying to points raised in the House, said two cases had been registered in connection with the "baby girl sale" racket. The issue had been referred to the CoD for detailed examination.

Mr.Kharge said 17 baby girls had been sold in the last two years, and 17 persons were involved in the racket of whom seven had been arrested and were in custody. Four of the accused were absconding and efforts were being made to arrest them. The main accused, Savitri, of Rangareddy taluk in Ahdhra Pradesh, was among those absconding.

Since Andhra Pradesh was also involved, a senior officer had been put in charge to ensure co-ordination in the investigation, Mr.Kharge said.

Mr.Kharge also explained several measures initiated by the Government to provide a sense of security to the Lamanis living in the tandas. Among them were sanction of a Rs.20-lakh water supply scheme in addition to the existing one, publicising rural employment programmes, a Rs.80-lakh scheme for improvement of barren land, and opening of 23 anganawadis.

Mr.Araga Gnanendra (BJP) alleged that there was suspicion of a conspiracy by foreign missionaries who indulged in the racket under the pretext of rendering service. He demanded an inquiry into the source and the extent of funds received by them.

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