Man sells 2-month-old son for Rs 700 to buy medicine for wife

Malkangiri, Odisha: Unable to purchase medicine for his sick wife, a tribal man allegedly sold his two-month-old baby boy to a woman for Rs 700 in Malkangiri district of Odisha.

Sukura Muduli and his wife Dhumusi Muduli of Chittapalli-2 of Korkunda block had handed over their son to an ASHA (Accredited social health activist) worker of nearby Chittapalli-3 village in February this year, said district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) President Sanjukta Pradhan. After getting information about the incident today, district collector D Prasant Kumar Reddy had directed the CWC to probe the matter, Pradhan said.

During investigation it was found that the poor couple has not been covered under any of the poverty amelioration schemes by the government including BPL or Indira Awas.

Sukura, deposing before the CWC, had said that he was unable to make both ends meet and to purchase the medicine for his sick wife, Pradhan said. Therefore, he had handed over his son to the woman, who had given Rs 700 for purchasing medicine for his wife and 50 kg rice, he said.

Pradhan said that efforts were being made to provide them with a house under Indira Awas Yojana and cover the family under BPL and other schemes. Meanwhile, the baby boy was in possession of the ASHA worker.

"Since Sukura and his wife are unable to look after the child, the baby is presently staying at the house of the ASHA worker," Pradhan said.