Post News Network
Rayagada, Sept 20: Even as the Centre and state governments are making efforts to check infant mortality, a newborn rescued here Sunday became a victim of the tug of war between a section of local residents and Childline authorities over its possession.
According to reports, the newborn was rescued from a bush in Sriramnagar.
The baby died at the district headquarters hospital after a section of the local residents delayed its treatment refusing to hand it over to Childline authorities.
The incident, coming at a time when the death of over 50 infants at Cuttack-based Sishu Bhawan has hogged the limelight, triggered resentment among the denizens and child rights activists.
Sources said a few women of Sriramnagar spotted the newborn wrapped in a piece of cloth lying under a bush. They suspected that it was the handiwork of an unwed mother.
A woman named Manika rescued the baby and took it home as she had no issue of her own.
However, a local alerted the Childline officials about the incident. Following this, Childline officials led by their coordinator Pabitra Rana rushed to the spot and pleaded before Manika to hand over the baby to them.
But she refused to do so and insisted that she will bring up the baby. Some residents soon joined her and had a spat with the Childline officials on the issue. Finding no way out, the officials called the police following which the baby was admitted to the district headquarters hospital.
However, it was too late by then as the baby’s condition had deteriorated without food and proper treatment.
Despite best efforts by doctors, the baby succumbed while being shifted to the special newborn care unit (SNCU) from the outdoor ward.
A pall of gloom descended in the area after reports about the infant’s death surfaced.
Childline member Sayeed Salim said the newborn could have survived had the residents not delayed its treatment.