Kerala: Children's panel seeks report on denial of breast-feeding

KOZHIKODE: The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR) has sought a report from Kozhikode district child protection officer on the incident of a superstitious father denying breast-feeding of his new born at Mukkam here on Wednesday. The 34-year old man did not allow his wife to breast-feed the new born arguing that the child should be given anything only after hearing the call of prayer five times from the mosque, which means after 24 hours after birth.

He also said that the new born could take mother’s milk only after having ‘holy’ water given by a religious preacher and refused the pleas by the doctors and his wife that keeping the new born hungry for a day would be dangerous. The intervention of police also failed and the doctor got a written statement from the man that he was responsible for any untoward if occurred to the child.

After 24-hours, the new born was breast fed on Thursday and the family returned home. KeSCPCT member Naseer Chaliyum said that prima facie the incident is a violation of child rights. “District child protection officer has been asked to submit a report on Friday. Further action will be followed as per the report,” he told DC.