CUTTACK: The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Cuttack district has rescued a 13-day-old child who was allegedly ‘sold off’ by her mother at Choudwar’s Salagram since she could not fend for herself and her family.
The infant’s custody has been given to Vasundhara. The woman, Tikili Barik, who works as a house maid, is alleged to have handed over three children in the past too.
The matter came to light when an anganwadi worker visited Tikili’s home in Professorpara area as part of regular inspection.
While the woman had registered all six of her children with the anganwadi centre, the anganwadi worker came across just three.
When the matter was reported to the CWC, the officials questioned the woman and found that the 13-day-old baby was handed over to one Narendra Sahoo of Salagram. Tikili, though, refused that she has sold off the baby and said Narendra is a distant relative.
It was difficult for her to provide for her six children since her husband Prafulla Barik is an alcoholic, she said.
Three other children too were given away to relatives so that they could be taken care of, she told the CWC officials. The matter is under investigation.