Abject poverty forces Odisha couple to sell 9-day-old girl child for Rs 20,000, infant rescued

In a shocking incident, a 9-day-old girl was allegedly sold by her parents due to ‘abject poverty’ in Odisha’s Rayagada district. The couple reportedly sold the baby girl for Rs 20,000 to a childless couple from Andhra Pradesh.

The accused father identified as Rahul Dhanbadi claimed he sold his newborn as his financial conditions were not strong enough to take care of the baby.

According to sources, Rahul and his wife were blessed with a baby girl recently. This happened to be their second child as they already have a daughter together. Citing financial problems, the couple allegedly sold the newborn to a childless couple from Andhra Pradesh for Rs 20,000.

However, the Child Protection Commission refuted the ‘child sale’ allegations and stated that the couple had handed over the newborn for adoption. A thorough probe into the incident was launched while the infant was rescued, it was learnt.

Also Read: Child Sale Racket Busted In Odisha, 7 Including 2 Women Arrested

“I have no work. I don’t even have a house. So, I was worried about taking care of two girls. We do not have ration cards for the babies. I have to buy the rice. That’s the reason, I gave up my newborn to the childless couple so that they can take good care of her,” claimed the child’s father.

When contacted, Satyapriya Pradhan, a member of the Child Protection Commission said, “We were here for inquiry, and we found out that this was their second girl child. They have not sold the girl child. But, due to poverty, they have illegally given their child for ‘adoption’. A probe into the matter is on.”

Meanwhile, the CWC rescued the infant from Pedapenki village in Andhra Pradesh's Manyam district and brought her to its Rayagada office.

Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo, who is from Bolangir, ordered a probe into the alleged sale of the newborn in Sangurjibhata village.

Singh Deo met the child's mother Arunabati Nag on Tuesday.

Arunabati claimed that she had "gifted" her newborn to unknown people because she could not care for six children.

"During our interaction, the mother said that she was unable to raise six children. Thus the family decided to gift the youngest one," Singh Deo said.

The deputy chief minister added, "While a child can be given for adoption, there is a formal procedure that was not followed in this case. Legal action will be taken against those responsible."

(Inputs from PTI)