A 22-day-old baby girl, who was allegedly sold by her poverty-stricken mother for a paltry sum of Rs 1,000, is now under the care of the child welfare committee.
The baby’s mother, Nagamani, allegedly sold her to Nalini, a group ‘D’ employee at the government hospital where the infant was born. The matter came to light when Saraswathamma, a junior women’s health assistant at the hospital, visited Nagamani’s house at Kyathaganakere tanda in the taluk on Monday to administer vaccine to the baby. As the baby was not there, Saraswathamma grew suspicious and brought the matter to the notice of the authorities concerned.
Then Child Development Project Officer, Usha, interrogated Nagamani who “confessed” to selling the baby. Meanwhile, sources say, Nalini had “attempted” to sell the baby off to someone else for a higher price. It is alleged that an organised baby sale racket is thriving in the taluk. Pavagad police have booked a case.
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