A couple in Odisha’s Rayagada district allegedly sold a newborn girl to a childless couple in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh for Rs 20,000, the second such incident reported in the state in a week. Officials have begun a probe into the incident which was reported from Nuapada colony under Chandili police station area.
“The couple – aged 25 and 22 – already have a two-year-old girl child, and had another baby girl on November 3. Unable to raise another girl because of poverty, they decided to hand over the newborn to a couple in Andhra Pradesh,” said a senior officer.
A mediator helped the couple in the process and they handed over the child through an “adoption deed” done at the local notary on November 12, which is illegal, said the official.
On whether there was any financial transaction, the official said they are probing the matter though both the couples denied it.
The matter came to light after the local Anganwadi worker and ASHA worker reported the matter to the authorities of the district child protection unit at Rayagada after they didn’t find the newborn at couple’s house.
The Child Welfare Committee has rescued the child and kept her in an adoption agency. “It’s illegal to transfer custody of a child through an adoption deed. The child is currently in our custody,” said a child protection officer.
During the probe, the couple from Andhra Pradesh admitted that they were unaware of the rules to adopt a child. The child’s father, who works as a helper in a local transport company with a monthly earning of Rs 2,000, said he and his wife decided to hand over the newborn as they cannot afford to raise another child.
On Tuesday, a similar case was reported from Khaprakhol block in Balangir district where a couple allegedly handed over a newborn girl to unidentified persons saying that they are unable to afford to raise her due to poverty. A CWC member lodged a complaint with Lathore police station in Balangir in this regard.
