Newborn girl child sold for Rs 6000 in Odisha, probe ordered

A newborn girl child was allegedly sold for Rs 6,000 by her parents in Odisha’s Jajpur district, prompting the authorities to order a probe into the incident on Thursday.

According to local media reports, Lata Rana (28) wife of Baikuntha Rana (35) of Ranpur village under Binjharpur police station in the district allegedly sold their newborn for Rs 6,000 to a childless couple of the same area on Sunday soon after the childbirth.

The couple already has two daughters and one son. The parents told local accredited social health activist Abanti Samal, who had got Lata admitted to Binjahrpur community health centre for delivery, to sell or give the child up for adoption as they were poor and would find it very hard to feed four children, the report said.

The couple then allegedly sold the infant girl to a childless couple for Rs 6000 on Sunday night.

“We are very poor people and find it very hard to feed a six-member family, including four children,” the couple said.

They decided to hand over the newborn to a childless couple to be adopted and raised well, it said.

“We have not sold our new born baby girl for money,” they added.

Jajpur Collector today asked the district child welfare committee (CWC) to inquire into the matter and submit a detailed report soon.

“I have asked the chairperson of CWC to conduct an inquiry into the matter and furnish a report very soon. I am waiting for the inquiry report to know the actual fact,” said Sarat Kumar Biswal, in-charge Collector of Jajpur.

The probe was ordered after reports on the alleged sale appeared in a section of local media.