TV
Police in Bolangir district are investigating claims that a woman sold her three-day-old male child allegedly for monetary benefits, sources said on Wednesday.
Also Read: Odisha couple buys bike by selling 9-day-old baby for Rs 60,000!
The identity of the woman has not been disclosed by police as an investigation is underway.
This concerning situation unfolded after the newborn was discharged from the Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital (BBMCH). Subsequently, it is alleged that the woman gave her son to another individual.
In a covert operation conducted by OTV, the woman reportedly admitted to handing over her son to another person for upbringing. However, she has not made any statement in this regard before the camera.
“The baby was born on the 6th of this month at the government-run hospital. Shortly after being discharged, the child was allegedly given away under circumstances that have yet to be clarified,” a source said on the condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, authorities in Bolangir have launched a probe into the baby sale incident, led by the District Child Welfare Committee and Child Protection Unit. The inquiry followed soon after the matter was reported by OTV, revealing a transaction at the medical facility involving the sale of the newborn boy, allegedly intended for trafficking to Rourkela.
Recent cases of child sales
Multiple incidents of child sales and illegal adoptions have been reported in Odisha. In November 2024, a Rayagada couple sold their nine-day-old daughter for Rs 20,000 through a middleman, using a stamp paper agreement. Another case in Bolangir involved parents 'gifting' their newborn due to the inability to support six children. In December 2024, a Balasore man allegedly traded his four-day-old son for a motorcycle worth Rs 60,000.
Structural drivers
As per experts, extreme poverty remains the primary catalyst, with daily wage laborers earning Rs 1,500-2,000/month struggling to support multiple children. Odisha's tribal communities face compounded vulnerabilities - 23% belong to tribal groups, and districts like Nabarangpur report 1,347 child marriages (2019-2025). The State's neonatal mortality rate of 32/1,000 births exacerbates family planning challenges.
Must Read: 4-year-old girl child sold for Rs 40000 in Bhubaneswar; 4th such case in November
Systemic gaps
Illegal adoptions persist due to a lack of awareness about formal procedures under the Juvenile Justice Act. Frontline health workers (ASHA/Anganwadi) identified missing infants during routine checks.
