Another case of ‘baby sale’ comes to light

from The Statesman

AJPUR, July 23: A poverty-stricken distressed couple in Jajpur has allegedly sold their 20-day-old son to another issue-less couple last week, alleged local Congress leaders. If the allegation turns out to be true, it is second of its kind in the district in a span of fortnight

The couple, however, denied the charge and said they had not taken any money rather they had given their child to another couple. But sale or no sale, the glaring fact was the distress conditions and yet another case of the much hyped social security and food security measures not reaching the most needy people.

It, however, came to fore when Brahabarada zilla parishad member and local Congress leader Mr Bijay Kumar Das made the allegation yesterday.
This incident comes close on the heel of two similar cases in Jagatsinghpur and Jajpur earlier this month.

Directed by the district administration, a team of government officials, including Rasulpur block additional block development officer Mr Upendra Jena, revenue inspector of Banksahi circle Mr Sahadev Sahu and village level worker Mr Chaitanya Hasta met the couple today.

Sk Kamiruddin (37) and his wife Munifa Bibi of Maheswarpur village under Rasulpur block gave their fifth child to Alli Khan (40) and his wife Sohan Bibi (32) of Rekabi Bazar near Baruhan under Jajpur block.

But both the couples have denied of having any monetary transaction on the issue. “We haven’t sold our son. As we were reeling under acute poverty, we donated it to a couple who happens to be a distant relative of ours. We also have made a legal paper in the presence of some eminent persons of our village,” Kamiruddin and Munifa told this correspondent today.

According to the sarpanch of Maheswarpur grama panchayat, the couple has two daughters and two sons besides the newborn one. Sarpanch, Sk. Abula also said that the poverty-stricken couple donated their new-born baby for his better maintenance. Karimuddin, however, claims that no poverty alleviation scheme has reached him. “I am not even included in the BLP list and no Antadyoya card has been issued against my family. We are living in acute poverty and for which my sister is taking care of my elder son,” he told.

“It was not possible for us to maintain a newborn son along with other four children due to poverty,” said a dejected Munifa.

Refuting the allegation of child sale, ABDO Jena admitted that the couple has adopted the baby. “Muslim couple of Alli and Sohan have three daughters and they wanted a son. They also have made an agreement on a non-judicial paper,” he said.

Contacted, Jajpur collector Mr Sanjay Kumar Singh said: “It is not a case of child-sale. However further inquiry is being conducted and the details will be known on tomorrow. We will provide assistance to the couple as per government norms.”