Newborn Baby given away in Tripura: In Simna village, a family gave away their newborn daughter due to financial hardship. Police and child rights commission respond swiftly.
In a deeply unsettling incident that highlights the dire financial struggles of some families, a one-day-old baby girl was reportedly given away to another family due to acute poverty. The incident took place in Simna’s Katlamara village, located in the West Tripura district. On April 30, Prosanjit Das and his wife Lakshmi Rani Sarkar became parents for the fourth time. However, just hours after the baby was born at the Katlamara Primary Health Centre, she was handed over to a family residing in Khowai.
The mother, Lakshmi Rani, stated that they already have three children and were not in a position to raise a fourth due to financial hardship. Speaking to local media, she explained, “We were already struggling to feed and care for our three children. We felt that the baby would get a better life in that family.” She also admitted that they had prior contact with the Khowai-based family, indicating that the decision was not made on impulse but had been considered earlier.
“We were already struggling to feed and care for our three children. We felt that the baby would get a better life in that family.”
The child’s maternal grandmother also confirmed that the baby had indeed been handed over, adding weight to the growing concerns surrounding the legality and ethics of the situation.
Once the matter came to light on Sunday, it triggered immediate responses from local law enforcement and child welfare authorities. The police from Sidai Police Station and Sundar Tilla Outpost, in coordination with Khowai Police and the NGO Childline, launched a swift operation. Acting on the information, they were able to locate and recover the infant, who is now in the safe custody of a state-run childcare home.
“We are deeply concerned about the incident. While it is being claimed that the child was not ‘sold’ but ‘given away’, this form of informal handover is still not permissible under the law,” said Jayanti Debbarma,Chairperson of the Tripura State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Following the incident, Chairperson of the Tripura State Commission for Protection of Child Right “We are deeply concerned about the incident. While it is being claimed that the child was not ‘sold’ but ‘given away’, this form of informal handover is still not permissible under the law,” she said. , Jayanti Debbarma, addressed the media and offered clarity on the commission’s standpoint.
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Debbarma further noted that any act of transferring custody of a child must follow strict legal procedures, especially under adoption laws. “At present, the baby girl is safe and healthy in a government-run children’s home. An investigation is ongoing. If it is confirmed that the biological parents are unable to raise the child, then a legal adoption process will be considered, following all necessary guidelines and formalities,” she added.
Authorities have reiterated that no individual or family can simply “give away” a child due to economic hardship, and such actions—even if not intended as trafficking—can be harmful and illegal. The Commission, along with the local administration, is now focusing on both the welfare of the infant and the accountability of the adults involved in the handover.
This incident has ignited public discourse around poverty, access to family planning, and social support mechanisms for low-income families. Activists have pointed out that while the mother’s distress is real and her concern for the child’s future is understandable, such incidents are symptoms of a larger systemic failure. “Families shouldn’t have to choose between feeding their children and keeping them,” said a member of a local women’s rights organization.
As the investigation continues, the baby remains under the care of the government. Authorities have promised that her well-being will be prioritized and that any future steps regarding her custody will be carried out in compliance with child welfare laws and adoption regulations.
The state’s child protection agencies are also reportedly reviewing the need for more proactive support to vulnerable families, including those with multiple children and inadequate income. The aim is to prevent such desperate decisions in the future through better awareness, access to aid programs, and counseling.
