Newborn babies are abandoned on a regular basis in the City. Some ignore their cries of help while others, acting as good Samaritans, take the hapless children home in good faith, which is illegal. Metrolife spoke to authorised NGOs about the correct procedure of dealing with an abandoned child.
They are destiny's children. Newborns as old as two hours to 10-day-old, are abandoned in the City. Mostly found on railway tracks, parks, near garbage bins, open drains and in hospital corridors and whatever empty space that is available in this big city, these children are virtually left in the lap of the elements.
According to available statistics, at least 7 babies are abandoned in the City every month. To be precise, in 2005, 17 babies were abandoned, 2006 saw the number rise to 20 and in 2007 the numbers stand at 15 as on December end.
Needless to say, more than half of them are girls. Parents even when traced, give false identification, in their eagerness to wash their hands off them. What happens to these babies? Where do they go from the lap of the elements?
People who happen to spot these babies simply look through them or are plain scared to step forward and lend a helping hand because they are afraid of the unnecessary complications that might follow. In most instances, people who spot these babies give them off to a childless couple they personally know.
It is also true that people are in the dark and don't know what to do when they find an abandoned baby.
There are only three non-governmental organisations — APSA, Bosco Mane and Makkala Sahayavani — that work alongside the police and the child welfare committee to make sure that these abandoned babies are put in an orphanage or a good home.
The three — the NGOs, the police and the child welfare committee — co-ordinate to eliminate any kind of illegal activities such as child trafficking.
The eight adoption homes, recognised by the State government — Shishu Mandir, one near Kidwai hospital and the other near Ulsoor; Ashraya in Indiranagar; Mathruchaya in Banashankari; Vatsalya in Banaswadi; Nirmala Shishu Bhavan and Anatha Shishu Bhavan in Chamrajpet — are where these children end up.
The hospitals that record high instances of abandoned children are Vani Vilas, Victoria and Bowring Hospital.
There's a certain procedure that has to be followed when an abandoned baby is found. If the baby is abandoned in a hospital then the hospital authorities get in touch with any of the above three NGOs, which, in turn, file a police complaint and later the case is placed before the child welfare committee.
The committee publishes the details of the abandoned child in a newspaper. If no claimants to the child come forward within 60 days from the date of publishing the matter, the committee proceeds the legal way.
The child is handed over to an adoption centre for adoption. "Cases of abandoned babies are thoroughly scrutinised and examined. The child is looked after in government recognised NGOs before being handed over to the adoption centres. All legal procedures are adhered to, " says P N Basavaraju, member of the committee.
Child helpline 1098 that is open 24 hours receives not less than 50 calls specifically for missing child, runaway children and abandoned babies. The calls received for abandoned babies are attended to by the NGOs.
“Abandoned babies often belong to poor parents who can't afford to bring up the child, or babies with some disability or born to unwed mothers. It could just be a way of getting rid an unwanted pregnancy. Babies are usually abandoned in the wee hours of the morning when it's quite and the culprit cannot be spotted,” says Fr George, Director, Bosco Mane.
The child is usually left in government hospitals because exorbitant bills and round the clock security at private hospitals deter people from trying such things there.
Makkala Sahayavani is another NGO, attached to the police commissioner’s office, working to rescue abandoned babies.
Unlike Bosco Mane and APSA, this organisation has no volunteers scouting the City to spot abandoned babies, they only attend to calls received on 1098 and inform the police.
“We work with the police and are pretty short-staffed. We have two or three constables assisting us. So it’s impossible to go out into the field and monitor what’s happening in the City,” says a head constable with Makkala Sahayavani and adds, “even one-year-old babies are abandoned. These children are absolutely healthy. Boys are girls are abandoned in equal number.”
Abandoned babies usually have high fever, cold, cough and are starved. Some of them are diagnosed with HIV and those born with disability die within a day or two.
Finders not keepers
People who find abandoned babies must first of all call the child helpline 1098 or file a police complaint. And the finder of the baby must be a part of the procedure till all the formalities are through. The police will instantly get in touch with the NGOs which will in turn inform a member of the child welfare committee.
These bodies will take up the case and follow the legal track to rescue the child and find it a home. The committee will make arrangements for the baby to be looked after till it is handed over to an adoption centre.
You can also contact Makkala Sahayavani on 22943224.
