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Case-Studies

9. Case of abandoned babies:
Case 1: One day old baby abandoned.

28th December 2006 CHILDLINE Coimbatore received a call form the Director of a Special School informing about a newborn baby girl found abandoned in the school premises. The Director found the baby at 9.30 P.M. CHILDLINE team rushed to the school and rescued the baby. The previous day the Director had received a call from a lady informing that the baby was born the previous day at 5.00 P.M and requested the Director to look after the baby.

The case was brought to the notice of the District Social Welfare Officer. Following which the baby was produced before the CWC. Based on the instruction form the CWC the baby was entrusted into the care of a licensed Adoption Agency. Several calls and requests were received from couples keen on adopting the baby. The case was published in some of the national dailies and also broadcasted on FM Radio.

Case 2: day old baby buried alive.
CHILDLINE Allahabad came across the news, in the local daily, of a newborn baby girl buried alive in a farm. The paper reported that the baby was dug out by stray dogs and was found by the local villagers. The team rushed to the spot to rescue the baby, but was refused by the caretaker. Following enquiry it was found out that the family looking after the baby themselves had three children of their own and had no proper source of income. Also due to political rivalry between the two neighbouring villages the matter had taken a political turn.

Following two unsuccessful attempts to get the baby the matter was brought to the notice of SSP, Allahabad. The Child Welfare Committee was also briefed of the matter and requested to take a stand on the same. The Allahabad SSP took an immediate stand. The baby was handed over to CHILDLINE the very next day. After the baby was given medical attention she was handed over to CWC. A couple shortly adopted the baby after the necessary formalities were fulfilled. The CHILDLINE team is following up on the case.

Case 3: Premature baby.

A premature baby was brought to the notice of Chandigarh CHILDLINE on 28th April 2006. The parents had abandoned the baby in the hospital and there was no way the parents could be traced. A doctor, from the emergency ward, called the CHILDLINE office informing about the baby. The baby was in need of medical care. CHILDLINE arranged sponsorship support for medications. Also a personal attendant was required to take care of the baby at the hospital.
The team contacted a number of organizations such as the Red Cross, and the Director of Social Welfare. Finally the Honorary Secretary of All India Women's Conference provided two attendants to look after the baby at the hospital. In the absence of the attendants at times the CHILDLINE team looked after the baby. With the care and medications the child's health improved remarkably. The baby was provided temporary shelter through the CWC at one of the homes run by the support organizations.
During the time of the baby's transfer to the shelter home a man came forth to claim the child. The man was recognized by one of the team members. He had earlier contacted the CHILDLINE office for monetary assistance for the baby's medical treatment.

He explained that after the child's birth, his wife had fallen ill and had to be shifted to another hospital for treatment. Since he could not afford the treatment expenses he had to abandon the baby at the hospital. Despite the man's plea the baby was not handed over to him, as he did not have the necessary documents to support his statements. He was asked to visit his village and get the necessary documents form the Sarpanch to support his statement. Only then would the baby be handed over to him.

Meanwhile the baby's mother contacted the CHILDLINE office and requested that the child not be handed over to her husband, as he is mentally unstable following a brain surgery. The mother assured that once she is discharged form the hospital she would personally visit with the necessary documents to claim custody the child.

The baby is presently in the care of a support organization, waiting to be reunited with its family