Girl child sales remain higher despite strict laws and awareness

Hyderabad: A disproportionately large number of female children continues to be sold, abandoned or relinquished despite strict laws being implemented and awareness being created against the practice, in districts such as Nalgonda, Ranga Reddy and Medak. The main reasons cited are patriarchal discrimination against the female child, and some communities not wanting more than one girl child apart from economic backwardness. The government even gives an option to the parents to surrender the child but parents prefer to sell the baby for money instead, officials said.

The number of cases of babies being sold has not increased but more cases are being reported than in the past and there is now awareness among the neighbours of buyers or sellers. In a recent incident in Ranga Reddy district, a couple had a second female child whom they sold to a close relative. “In a few communities in Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Ranga Reddy and Medak districts, a third female child is disposed of. The practice is more in these pockets and in tandas,” said Ms K.R.S. Laxmi Devi, joint director, women development and child welfare (schemes).

She said other cases of female babies being sold pertained to those born with disabilities or those born before the mother is married. “In all these cases, parents can approach us and relinquish the child but they prefer selling,” said Ms Md Noorjahan, Integrated Child Development Services project director at the Ranga Reddy district.

Adoption has become easy:

The Centre has also tweaked rules of adoption of children and has made the process available online to make it both transparent and easy for families looking to adopt. A couple intending to adopt a child can now apply online and this is step is followed by an inquiry to check if they meet the required norms.

“Any couple can now apply online with their requirement of age and gender and a team will inquire into their status — and check if they will be able to raise the child. A report will then by submitted to the family court. Based on the availability, the couple gets a child following the court’s approval,” said Mr Nihal, legal officer, ICDS Ranga Reddy. The couple will be given five children to opt from.

After the couple are handed the child, the kid will be monitored for two years — to check whether its needs are being met by the adoptive parents.
The new online process also makes it easy to relinquish a child by the biological parents.

Any couple who do not want to keep their child can can now approach the women and child department and sign an agreement of relinquishment.
“There are safeguards. The couple will get a 60-day grace period if they change their mind and want the child back. After that period, the child will be produced before the Child Welfare Committee and after approvals the details will be put up online for adoption.” another ICDS official said.

If a child listed on the Central Adoption Resource Authority’s website for adoption is not adopted within 60 days, the child immediately becomes eligible for inter-country adoption.