NHRC seeks report on selling of baby in Kendrapara district

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday directed the Kendrapara district collector to submit a report in connection with the media reports that a newborn baby was sold due to poverty in the district.

Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports during its camp sitting at Bhubaneswar, the Commission directed to submit a report within four weeks along with the steps taken or proposed to be taken for relief and rehabilitation of the victim family.

The commission said that a homeless Scheduled Tribe woman, deserted by her husband, was forced to sell her newly born male child to one of her neighbors, for a sum of Rs. 2000 in Kendrapara district.

Reportedly, the woman took this step due to poverty as she is deprived of benefits of the government run schemes. She is already a mother of two children, said the commission.

The commission has observed that the contents of the news reports are indeed painful and indicative of the violation of the right to livelihood and dignity of the poor woman, who is forced by the circumstances to sell her child.

The incident was brought to the notice of NHRC by human rights activist Akhand.

Gita Murmu (30) of Bhamaradiapatana village in Kendrapara district, sold the baby to Manoj Sahoo and his wife, Mamta of the same village.

The child sale came to light after some villagers saw the newborn in Mamta’s custody.