“I had sold my baby to a couple for Rs. 5,000 due to poverty. Unable to feed my other two children, we admitted them in a hostel at Vellatur. Please admit the baby in the government home,” urged Shaik Noorjahan, who had sold her baby.
The woman, who gave birth to a baby girl on November 3, at the local Primary Health Centre (PHC), sold the baby to S. Nagamani and Durga Rao, of Chittinagar area in the city. The incident came to light during the Janmabhoomi programme at Kandriga in Vijayawada on Saturday, and the Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW) department officials lodged a complaint with the Nunna Rural police.
The officials, who identified both the biological and adopted parents rescued the baby and shifted the mother and the seven-day-old infant to a home run by Jyothi Welfare Society, at Bhavanipuram. “We came to know that Noorjahan sold a baby boy earlier and we are inquiring into it,” said WD&CW Krishna district Project Director K. Krishna Kumari.
On Sunday, Integrated Child Development Scheme supervisor K. Girija, along with anganwadi teacher M. Sujatha and social worker Velpula Sarada, visited the home and inquired with Ms. Noorjahan on the conditions that lead to sale of the baby.
“My husband Shaik Mastanvali is a cook. Due to financial problems, we had decided to sell the baby. With the help of two domestic helps – Malleswari and Vijaya – we gave the baby to Ms. Nagamani and Mr. Durga Rao,” she said.
The anganwadi staff had been observing Ms. Noorjahan for the last few months. But, soon after the delivery, it was noticed that the baby was missing and when questioned, the ‘illegal sale of baby’ came into light, said the PD. “The mother and baby are anaemic. We are providing necessary aid for them,” said Jyothi Welfare Society superintendent P. Susheela.
Ms. Krishna Kumari said the staff would meet the elders of both the families, verify medical certificates. “We will inquire about the other children of the woman and try to convince her in taking care of the baby”, she said.
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