Andhra Pradesh - Khammam   

Sold baby restored to mother

— PHOTOS: G.N. Rao & Singam Venkataramana

Motherly affection: Rajita taking her baby back in the presence of the Collector V. Usharani. (Right) An ayah feeding an abandoned baby girl in Nalgonda on Tuesday.

KHAMMAM: A day-old male baby sold by the mother allegedly to meet hospital expenditure in the coal town of Kothagudem was restored to her on Tuesday. The mother, being in no position to feed the baby, was reluctant to take him back as she was in no position to feed him.

However, she was asked to keep the baby for at least a fortnight.

If necessary, she could hand over the infant to Sishuvihar at the right time, said Collector V. Usha Rani.

She met the woman, T. Rajita, and assured her of all help. She would be referred to the State home for counselling and rehabilitation, if necessary. She wanted Mada Easwar, the auto driver, who was said to have purchased the infant, to approach the Woman and Child Welfare Department for adopting the child.

Deserted by husband and caught in a state of abject poverty, Rajita sold her baby to Mada Easwar and his wife Vijayalakshmi, who were issueless.

“I am not in a position to feed myself. I gave my son in adoption as I do not want him to starve,” she said.

She came to a relative’s house in Kothagudem from Mancherial, some time last year and married an auto driver, Rammurthy against her parents’ wishes. She later learnt that Rammurthy was already married and had another family to look after. He deserted her after knowing that she was pregnant.

Unable to return to her parents, she stayed with relatives and had no money when admitted to the hospital for delivery. As she was keen on getting rid of the baby, Easwar came forward to help her, paid her Rs. 6,000 and offered to take the child in adoption.

The Collector asked the Kothagudem RDO Raja Ram and local police to enquire whether anyone in the hospital had collected money from the woman at the time of delivery.

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Sold baby restored to mother

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