Koraput: A 17-day-old baby girl, who was allegedly sold by her impoverished parents to a couple in Andhra Pradesh, was brought back on Wednesday after the intervention of the Rayagada administration. The baby, born on Nov 3 and allegedly sold on Nov 11, is currently under the care of a children's home as authorities investigate the matter.
"We asked the couple to return the child, and they complied. The baby is now in a children's home while an inquiry is under way. If the parents are unable to care for her, alternative arrangements will be explored," said Bichitra Sethi, district child protection officer, Rayagada.
Rahul Dhanbeda (25) and Kumud Ganta (22) of Nuapada colony, allegedly sold their newborn daughter to K Chandra Sekhar (32) and his wife, Koppala Nandini (27), of Pedapenki village in Andhra Pradesh's Parvatipuram Manyam district, for Rs 20,000 to alleviate their financial plight.
The baby was the couple's second daughter. Rahul, a truck helper, earns Rs 1,500 per month, which he said is insufficient to sustain the family.
"We don't have a ration card to get free food grains, forcing us to buy rice from the market. We couldn't afford to raise the child and gave her to a childless couple for a better future," said Kumud, denying there was any monetary exchange.
Sekhar said he adopted the baby through a written agreement on court paper. "We were unaware of proper adoption procedures. If the parents wish to give the child up for adoption, we will proceed legally," Sekhar said.
Local officials, including Rayagada sub-collector Kalyani Sanghamitra Devi and tehsildar Priyadarsini Swani, visited Nuapada colony to investigate the matter but refrained from speaking on the incident. Efforts to contact Rayagada collector Parul Patwari for his comment were unsuccessful.
Congress members criticised the state govt for allegedly failing to provide adequate social security measures to the poor, leading to the incident.
"It is heartbreaking that poverty forced a couple to sell their child. This incident exposes the failure of state machinery to include the real beneficiaries under its various social security schemes," said Koraput MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka.
On Wednesday, Congress MLA from Rayagada, K Appala Swamy, and Bissamkatak legislator Nilamadhab Hikaka visited the family.
BJP member Kaliram Majhi assured the govt has ordered a thorough inquiry into the circumstances leading to the incident. "The child has been safely returned and further action will be taken based on the inquiry's findings," Majhi said.