Jajpur/Dharmasala: A newborn girl found half-buried in a compost pit was rescued by an ASHA worker in Shyamsundarpur village under Jenapur police limits in Jajpur district Saturday.
ASHA worker Droupadi Rout, wife of Gayadhar Rout, of Shyamsundarpur admitted the baby to Dharmasala community health centre (CHC).
The condition of the newborn was critical when rescued. The baby was handed over to the district child protection committee.
According to reports, Droupadi was on her way to her workplace at Gadamadhupur hospital at 10 am when some school children noticed the newborn buried in the compost pit and informed her.
The baby might have been buried in the pit soon after its birth by her family. The incident triggered shockwaves in the area with villagers thronging the spot. They claimed an unwed mother might have dumped the newborn.
After rescuing the baby, Droupadi sliced its umbilical cord before calling a 108-ambualnce and admitting her to the hospital. Dr Manas Ranjan Swain attended to the newborn.
Dr Swain said the baby’s condition was stable after treatment. However, the baby weighing over 2.5 kg was not crying, he added.
The district collector, the chief district medical officer, the district child protection officer, the district child welfare committee were apprised of the development through a letter (no-281, dated-25.03.2017) while Dharmasala police have also been informed, Dr Chintamani Mishra, medical officer of the hospital, said.
When contacted, Droupadi said the baby’s family members might have dumped her assuming that she was dead to avoid embarrassment in the village. PNN
