Wanted: Unwanted babies

To check ghastly acts of abandonment of new-born infants in Rajasthan, the social justice and empowerment (SJE) department has issued guidelines to the secretaries of medical health and medical education departments to mandatorily set up ‘palna kendras’ (cradle centres) in every primary health centre (PHC), community health centre (CHC), private nursing homes and hospitals in the state which have round-the-clock facilities.

The guidelines sent on 7th February detail the size and specifications of the palna and the procedure to be followed once a child is abandoned in these cradles. Significantly, they also clarify that abandonment in these state-institutionalised cradles will be kept confidential and no police action will be taken against persons abandoning infants in them. Otherwise, abandonment of children is a crime under section 317 of IPC.

“The medical departments have been instructed to construct the cradles in the hospital premises, away from crowded places and traffic. Infants can be abandoned in these palna kendras or handed over to the hospital staff, who will make an entry in the register and ensure confidentiality is maintained, without asking any questions. Immediate medical attention should be given to the child and the child welfare committee (CWC) informed within 24 hours of the infant’s arrival. Once it is confirmed that the child is healthy, he/she should be handed over to the CWC along with all records,” said Reena Sharma, deputy director, child protection, SJE department.

“This will also ensure that there will be no hurdles in the adoption process of these children. Once handed over to the CWC, it can go ahead with the normal procedure for adoption including declaring the child as legally free. The parents will not be required to come physically and surrender the child before the CWC if he/she has been safely abandoned in the cradle, she clarified.

DNA had reported last month that such a proposal was being considered, to ensure safety and proper rehabilitation of children left uncared for by parents and family. Elaborate guidelines for each of the concerned departments delineating their responsibilities are being worked out. A public interest litigation is currently underway at the Rajasthan High Court on the twin social menace of feticide and abandonment.