‘It is a Short Term Measure’

…says YV Anuradha, commissioner of the women and child department, of the cradle and bell scheme

Q On the abandoning of girl babies

A It has nothing to do with poverty. In that case, they should leave boys too. They only leave the girl child. This has to do with a mindset. The girl child is considered a social burden. I don’t want to discuss communities by name, because it is a sensitive issue.

A big problem is that they don’t follow family planning. When we interact with women, they inform us that there is no point in it because their husbands will then abandon them and marry again. And he will never undergo the family planning operation. The department is working towards a long-term measure with the medical and health department, especially in the Nalgonda areas. We’re trying to go together and counsel the families. It is now being done is a stray manner. We want to begin a campaign in the Nalgonda and Rangareddy belts. Let us not isolate any one community. The entire belt has to be dealt with—it could include BCs (backward castes), OCs (other castes), STs (scheduled tribes), SCs (scheduled castes). It is only incidental that it may comprise more ST families.

Q On the Cradle and Bell Scheme

A Our scheme is not the solution for society. It is a short- term measure to avert the atrocious killing of baby girls. In other words, female foeticide and infanticide are averted by this intervention. The assurance we
give to the mother is, ‘If not you, there is someone else to take care of your baby’. Let her child’s right, that is her right to live, be protected.

The long-term measure will be a joint approach by the Medical and Health department and the Women and Child departments. And also the Rural Development wing, where SHGs (Self Help Groups) should take on an active role, so should the NGOs (non governmental organisations) and community leaders.

The women working on the ground take a lot of initiatives. So they instil confidence in community members, the mother then feels assured that she can leave the child.

Q On criticism of the scheme

The intellectuals in one of the workshops said this is not a solution. We agree, this is not a solution. Come out with an alternative and we’ll stop. I am not allowing them to kill the babies, this is a temporary measure. What is the long-term solution?

We have bad patches, where progress has not been made. Those from the community who have progressed, should be sent there to influence more people. Let government schemes percolate into these patches. We will support them. Our anganwadi supervisors know the community, they have built a rapport with them. There they tell community members that there are so many parents without children.

Initially, mothers were restless and suspicious. And they were worried about the possibility of a police case. We told them that relinquishing a baby is a right. If someone wants to abandon a baby, they can officially do it. We will only make them sign a deed. Biological parents can do that. If the mother dies and the father is not able to look after children, he can relinquish the baby. We take it. It is not abnormal.

The only thing is, how long will they beget children and how long will they continue to give us the children. But that change cannot be made overnight. The community will have to be sensitised. We’ll have to create awareness. It is not the responsibility of the Women and Child department alone. All wings of the government will have to get involved. Our idea is not to punish people. No social issue can be solved by
punishing people.

Q On the growing burden on the state

A It is never a burden to us. It is a welcome step, but that does not mean that we are encouraging such
parents. That is why I say, this is a temporary intervention, a short-term intervention till there is an intervention by other departments to sensitise men and empower women.

Q On adoption of abandoned babies

A There is a big queue for adoption. (On a lighter note, she adds) So we are trying to beg, borrow or steal. (She laughs). There is a lot of demand for babies. The problem is that not all babies are suitable for adoption. Norms have to be followed. Children who are relinquished require two months’ time (before they can be considered for adoption). Parents may change their minds. If they come after two months, we don’t tell them where the baby has been given. Otherwise, they may create a nuisance there.

The waiting list for a baby girl is ten months. For a boy, it’s as long as three years.

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