A three-day-old infant who was allegedly sought to be sold off by his parents for a sum of Rs. 1.5 lakh was produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) during an inquiry into the incident on Tuesday. This was the second such sale reported in the city in the last one week.
Members of the committee grilled the couple, V. Mohan Rao and Rama Devi, for trying to sell the baby boy to an issueless couple through a mediator. Rama Devi and Mohan Rao, a mason and father of two children, married two years ago and lived in the Ranigarithota area near Krishnalanka. They had a son, now year-and-a half years old.
When their second son was born to them three days ago, the couple reportedly entered into an agreement through a mediator, Nazeema, to sell the baby to another couple for Rs. 1.5 lakh. Upon receiving this information, District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) officials went to the locality and took the baby, the couple and the mediator Nazeema into their custody.
Mohan Rao admitted to the committee that he planned to sell the baby. He said he did not have the financial means to raise the baby, and his wife agreed to the sale. “We are unable to feed our children. We have to pay Rs. 2,000 for the house rent,” his wife told CWC.
Committee chairman B. Nagesh Rao pulled up the couple. “Selling babies is a crime. It is inhuman,” he told them.
Committee members said a further inquiry would be conducted into the socio-economic conditions of the family.
The committee directed officials to furnish the ration, aadhar and voter cards of the couple.
The Krishnalanka police and local health department staff have been told to keep a vigil on the family.
Upon being counselled, the couple agreed to keep the baby. “If we cannot afford to bring up the boy, we will him hand over to the government,” said Rama Devi.
Officials of the Women and Child Welfare Deparment said that although cases of baby sales are increasing, they do not normally prosecute couples on humanitarian grounds. Though there were complaints, police do not book cases.
No prosecution
“We cannot arrest the mothers because that would only separate the babies from them. We counsel people against illegal adoption and sale of babies and explain the law to them,” CWC chairman Nagesh Rao said.
