Turned out by hubby, woman gets child back with state officials’ help

Lucknow: In an intervention under UP govt’s child welfare initiatives, a five-month-old was reunited with his mother in Bijnor after prompt action by Child Helpline 1098, officials said on Sunday.

The case came to light after Child Helpline received information on May 3 that a family dispute had led to the infant being separated from his mother. Officials said the child’s father, Shahabuddin, turned his wife Faima Khatoon out of the house and kept the infant with him.

Authorities treated the matter as highly sensitive because the child, being only five months old, was fully dependent on maternal care and breastfeeding.

Officials said Child Helpline team, functioning under the Mission Vatsalya Yojana of the women welfare department, coordinated with the anti-human trafficking unit (AHTU) and child welfare officer of the local police station after receiving the complaint.

A joint team reached the spot and held separate as well as joint counselling sessions with both parents. Officials convinced the father that separating an infant from mother could adversely affect the child’s physical, emotional and mental development.

The team also sensitised the family about legal and social implications of the issue and attempted to resolve the dispute peacefully in the best interest of the child.

Following counselling, Shahabuddin agreed to hand over the infant to his wife in the presence of officials.

Authorities said special emphasis was placed on ensuring that the infant continued to receive proper maternal nutrition, breastfeeding and care.

Faima Khatoon, resident of Loni in Ghaziabad, thanked the authorities and chief minister Yogi Adityanath for the prompt intervention and said that after being separated from her child over family dispute, she had approached Child Helpline 1098 for help and officials acted immediately to reunite her with her child.

“The family will always remain thankful for support and prompt action,” she said. Officials said Faima has currently returned to her parental home along with the child. She has also appealed to state govt for support in raising the child.

Deputy director of of women welfare directorate Pushpendra Singh said, “Reunion of the five-month-old infant with his mother in Bijnor reflects sensitive and coordinated functioning of Child Helpline 1098, the anti human trafficking unit and child welfare officials.”

He added that state govt was committed to protecting best interest of children and ensuring timely intervention in such sensitive cases.