In Uttar Pradesh, Government has ordered all government hospitals and orphanages to establish SHISHU SWAGAT KENDRA- PALNA and put up cradles in front of their buildings so that parents can give up unwanted babies safely.

Yesterday an order was issued to all district magistrates and other higher officials of the state to ensure the setup of PALNA centres. This will help in tackling the problem of abandoning the infant at the roadside.

Cradles at medical colleges, district, satellite and sub-district hospitals will be set up to save newborns abandoned by their parents. At these Centres, any person, lady or couple can leave the child with disclosing their identity. State Government has instructed that at these centres there will be the arrangement of proper treatment of infants and government employees will be posted in shifts to take proper care of the infants.

A Gazetted officer will be in charge of these PALNA centres and his number will be displayed. District Magistrates have been asked to start a helpline which will work 24 into 7 and detail of every abandoned infant will be sent to higher official immediately. The cradles will be fitted with a bell by which the staff can be alerted to the arrival of the child.

Then the baby can be taken to the local child welfare committee and screened further to evaluate if it is fit for adoption. The 'Palna' scheme will also help bridge the gap between the number of children available for adoption and the burgeoning list of adoptive parents.