Odisha: ANM Suspended In Balangir ‘Child Gifting’ Incident

Balangir: Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Odisha’s Balangir on Friday suspended Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery (ANM) Mamata Bhoi in connection with the alleged child gifting incident at Sangurjibhata village under Khaprakhol block.

According to sources, the incident took place in presence of the health worker posted at Sunamudi community health centreand she had allegedly handed over the newborn girl to a non-Odia couple on November 2.

The matter came under investigation after an ASHA worker of the area went to the house of Aruna Bati Nag, the mother, and reported the matter to the child development project officer (CDPO). Childline members also visited the village and filed an FIR at Lathor police station in this regard on November 13. Balangir police later traced the newborn girl, allegedly sold by her mother after her birth, to a private hospital in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur.

On November 19, Deputy Chief Minister K V Singhdeo ordered a probe into matter after interacting with the mother, who claimed that she had ‘gifted’ her newborn to some unidentified persons through the ANM because she was unable to raise her six children.

Bhoi, however, said that it was the woman’s decision to send the newborn away because her impoverished condition. Following which, the ANM is believed to have contacted a couple of Rampur village through one Alok Agrawal.

When KV questioned her on violation of the adoption norms, the latter said she was unaware of the rules.

“We haven’t found any evidence of financial transactions yet. The complete truth will emerge when we question both families face-to-face,” IIC of Lathor police station Rakesh Behera said.