Dhenkanal: At a time when the girl child is often considered a ‘curse’ in the society and left abandoned, an adoption centre here in this district has come as a blessing for them.
A baby girl has got a new lease of life, thanks to the centre run by the administration here.
According to sources, a woman identified as Nirmala Behera had rescued a baby girl from a bush on the Ostosahi roadside under Gadian police limits in Dhenkanal district.
Miraculously, the baby had survived the cold throughout the night before being noticed by Nirmala. No animals or insects had also attacked her. With no child of her own, Nirmala kept the baby with her and took proper care of her.
However, District Legal Service Authority paralegal volunteer Kabita Behera came to know about the rescued baby from some sources and informed DLSA secretary Arun Patnaik.
Acting on the orders of Patnaik, a team comprising of the district sessions judge, DLAS chairman Taraprasad Rath, District Child Protection Officer Anuradha Goswami visited the village and enquired about the health of the rescued baby.
Although Nirmala was taking good care of the baby, the officials decided to rehabilitate her in an adoption centre as per government law.
Later, the baby was rescued with the help of sarpanch Sudhir Samal, Anganwadi worker Sujana Samal and ASHA Kalpana Sahoo. After medical tests, the baby was sent to a specialised adoption centre in Dhenkanal.
It was the 21st day of the rescue of the girl from the bush. So, the staff of the adoption centre decided to celebrate the ‘new life of the girl’ in a unique manner.
Nirmala, who rescued the baby also often visits the adoption centre to enquire about her. This unique method by the adoption centre to encourage embracing of neglected and abandoned baby girls is highly lauded by the netizens.
PNN