Bangalore, June 15: The Karnataka government has ordered an inquiry into the sale of infants and children by poor agricultural labourers in the Tiptur taluk of Tumkur district near Bangalore.
The state woman and child welfare minister, Narendra Swamy, said two cases of sale of children by agricultural labourers through middlemen had come to his notice. “ More such cases may have occurred. We have ordered a thorough probe to check the veracity of the complaints,” he said.
“ The inquiry will take time as we need to cross- check several things. We have deputed a special officer to look into it,” the minister added.
Swamy said a team of Tumkur district officials had sent him a preliminary report on the issue.
“ The socio- economic situation, which is influenced by various factors, has resulted in the sale of children,” he said.
However, Swamy said a decision on the issue “ can be taken only after the inquiry report is available” as it involved several departments. He also did not rule out that middlemen were involved in the sale. “ I cannot make any judgment at this juncture.
I am waiting for the report.
The inquiry team has to conduct a detailed investigation. I cannot confirm when the report will be ready. But we are committed to solve the problem,” Swamy said.
Suresh Nonavinakere, a community leader from Tiptur submitted a petition to the government urging it to address the issue at a macro level.
“ These cases should not be treated from the point of view of the police. Some parents were forced to sell their children due to abject poverty. If these unemployed labourers were provided alternative jobs, why would they sell their children?” Nonavinakere asked.
—Agencies