“39 were girl children and four boys”
HYDERABAD: As per the latest government data, ratio of newborn girls being abandoned is rapidly increasing in the city.
According to the ‘Telangana State Child Rights Protection Forum (TSCRPF)’ 43 newborns have been found abandoned in a span of six months, mostly in garbage bins, temples and hospitals.
“Out of them, 39 were girl children and four boys,” said a senior official.
Last year, about 50 children were found. This year, activists say the figure could be much higher.
According to NGOs, families belonging to poor backgrounds and migrants from neighboring states, usually abandon their new-born babies in the city. In 90% of the cases, the girl child is the victim. The children who are found alive are shifted to Sishu Vihar or Sishu Gruha.
“Since last year, over 60 children who were abandoned have been shifted to state-run Sishu Gruha,” said official from women and child welfare department.
“Thankfully, we have seen rise in adoption applications. The number of families who want to adopt a child, are far more than children currently in the state-run homes,” said the official.
Telangana State Child Rights Protection Forum (TSCRPF) says gender sensitization can bring cases down. “Thinking about dowry, families tend to abandon girl child,” said Varsha Bhargavi, an advisor to TSCRPF. “These cases are higher in Nalgonda and Sangareddy,” she said.
Activists say, lack of awareness of the ‘cradle baby scheme’is the reason behind this rising number. Under the scheme, if a family or a mother does not want to keep a baby, they can give them up for adoption