Post News Network
Sambalpur, March 30: A woman from Sonapali Gauntiapada area on the outskirts of the town allegedly sold her newborn boy for Rs 2,000 and a packet of rice to a well-off man to stave off hunger.
The sale of a baby by a woman, a daily-wage earner, flies in the face of the government’s tall claim of alleviating poverty by running successful welfare schemes. No wonder, neither the state government nor the district administration is aware of the incident even though four days have since elapsed.
Sabita Behera (33) had married Birabara Behera of Pallahara in Angul district. Sabita became a mother of four children–three daughters and a son even though her husband, a daily wager, could not arrange two square meals for them every day.
The couple had frequent fights over their acute financial state that led to their separation in September last year. She was two-month pregnant when she left her husband. She along with her kids came to Sonapali Gauntiapada and worked as a daily-wager to feed her kids.
She experienced labour pain Wednesday and delivered a boy in the decrepit house. Though she was groaning in labour pain, no one came forward to help her, sources said. A group of local activists admitted her to the district headquarters hospital.
Worrying over her son’s future, the woman approached a middleman who introduced her to a man from Cuttack town Thursday, She agreed to sell the newborn for any amount. Later, she handed over the baby for `2,000 and a packet of rice.
When asked, Sabita admitted to have sold her baby due to penury. “I have been living in extreme poverty and find it difficult to arrange meals for my four children. As he promised a good future for my child, I handed over my baby to him,” she said with his voice cracking.
