Shady nursing homes in Kolkata under scanner

KOLKATA: The unearthing of the

baby trafficking racket

has put the scanner firmly on several city nursing homes, some of which have been better known for their shady services than the treatment they provide. While the owners of two of them are now behind bars, at least a couple more are being screened.

Sree Krishna Nursing Home

on MG Road – right in the heart of the city – is a glaring example how smaller clinical establishments have been openly indulging in illegal activities. More than 40 years old, the nursing home is famous for illegal abortions, according to locals, who pointed out that the medical services provided by Sree Krishna started being relegated to the background more than 20 years ago. “The whole neighbourhood knows that it’s the last resort for those seeking abortions desperately. They would do it at a reasonable cost and we have often found fetuses in and around the building. The baby racket is something that was not widely known,” said a resident.

Down south in Behala, South View Nursing Home has a similar history and reputation. Popularly known as ‘Bordir nursing home’, it was never trusted by locals. Beggars and pavement-dwellers would often be found seen fleeting in and out of the nursing home, according to residents. “The nursing home claimed that they treated them without charge. Now, we suspect that these people were used in the money-spinning baby racket,” said a resident.

Earlier this year, South View created a controversy by refusing to release a beggar who had given birth at the nursing home. Locals intervened and had to organize a road block to force South View to relent. “It is sad that some of the nursing homes lure people by offering treatment at a low charge and then exploit them. They have also been indulging in unethical and illegal medical practices. Some doctors who are not involved in these activities are being made scapegoats. Many of these are run under the façade of a nursing home which actually don’t exist,” said Amitrajit Basu, psychiatrist.

Sree Krishna, for instance, claims to provide a range of health services which include surgery, obstetrics, gynaecology, family planning and outdoor service. But few of these facilities were actually available, alleged neighbours. “They do have baby delivery facilities but the rest are suspect. I was taken aback by the poor facilities on offer when my daughter-in-law gave birth at the nursing home a few years ago,” said an elderly woman residing at the building next to Sree Krishna.

The focus on nursing homes has landed another south Kolkata nursing home in trouble. While it has neither been charged by the police nor asked to shut down, a section of the media claimed that it was involved in the baby trafficking racket. “We have been flooded with calls. But so far none from the police has either called us or accused us of any wrongdoing,” said the owner.

Quick facts:
Sree Krishna Nursing home: More than 40 years old. Owners Partha Chatterjee and Paromita Chatterjee arrested. Locals say it has been openly indulging in illegal activities for more than 20 years. South View Nursing Home: Popularly known as Bordir nursing home, it had detained a beggar demanding money for delivering her child.