Couple surrenders third girl child to Madurai district CWC

MADURAI: Weeks after a case of female infanticide was reported near Sedapatti in Madurai district, a couple surrendered their third girl child, a newborn baby, to the Madurai district child welfare committee (CWC) on Monday.
According to the CWC, the baby was born to the couple a few days ago at the primary health centre at Melakkal. When the doctor and nurses came to know that the child was their third girl child, they counselled the couple and asked whether they could afford to take care of the child.
When the couple expressed that they would not be able to do so, the doctor alerted the district CWC. Subsequently, the baby girl was produced before the committee on Monday morning.
The baby was surrendered to CWC chairperson Dr V M Vijaya Saravanan and CWC member B Pandiaraja. The child was named ‘Anjali’ and will be cared for at an authorised adoption centre.
“We want to create more awareness among the public that anyone who cannot afford to take care of a child, no matter the circumstances, can always surrender the child to the CWC or just approach any government hospital or PHC instead of taking any drastic measures or abandon the child,” said Pandiaraja. The surrender of baby ‘Anjali’ was the first such case this year at the Madurai district CWC.
As per the data from the CWC in 2021, a total of 16 children, including 13 girls and three boys were surrendered in Madurai district. The number was less compared to 2020 when 27 children were surrendered during the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Madurai district CWC and the district child protection officer visited the boy who was part of a family of five who had attempted suicide together due to fear of Covid-19 by consuming poison. Two of the family died on Sunday.
Adhiswaran, 16, survived without suffering any damage to his health as he had not consumed the poison properly. His brother Sibiraj, 13, and mother Lakshmi are undergoing treatment at Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, while his sister Jothika and three-year-old nephew Ritish died.
The CWC and district child protection officer offered their assistance to the child and also helped him get a medical check-up as he is believed to have developed renal issues. They also offered counselling to the three survivors of the family and support for the care of Adhiswaran and Sibiraj.