The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Poverty forces couple to sell infant

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 16, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Poverty forces couple to sell infant

By S. Ramu

DEVARAKONDA (NALGONDA DT.), JUNE 15. Compelled by abject poverty compounded by harsh drought conditions, a tribal couple has sold its 10-month-old baby to a fisherman for Rs. 800 in Devarakonda mandal.

Though the "transaction'' was effected in April-end, it came to light only last week. Vankunawath Balu Naik and his wife Sakri of Madalukunta Thanda under Mainampally gram panchayat, migrated to Devarkonda town along with three children -- Padma (7) and twins, Devi and Ramu (3) -- in search of work two years ago, sources said. The 38-year-old tribal, who was striving very hard to fend for his family, was working as a daily-wage labourer. Complicating matters for the family, Sakri gave birth to another baby 10 months ago. Ramana, a fisherman of Kollapur in Mahabubnagar district, and his wife, Lingamma, repeatedly asked the tribal couple to give them the new-born "since they were not blessed with children,'' according to villagers. "Balu confessed to me that he had given away the baby after taking Rs. 800. He says that Ramana's family had adopted the baby,'' the Devarkonda Sub- Inspector, B. Ramulu Naik, told The Hindu on Tuesday. To a question, he said poverty was the reason for the sale of the infant.

The eldest daughter of Balu Naik told reporters that her parents sold their new-born sister due to financial hardships. At the behest of the police, the tribal couple went to Kollapur to bring the baby back.

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