CUTTACK: In a development that raises serious questions on the state-of-affairs at SCB Medical College and Hospital, the premier public heath institution of the state has been found to have no record of as many as 14 babies born to destitute and mentally-challenged women in its obstetrics and gynaecology department in the last six years.
While the issue has drawn allegations of child sale, the revenue divisional commissioner (RDC), Central division, has ordered a probe to ascertain the whereabouts of the babies, whose records are untraceable. In a directive to the SCB MCH superintendent, under-secretary to RDC, Central division, Cuttack Sanjeev Hansdah has sought a detailed inquiry along with an action taken report (ATR) on the matter.
The direction was issued on the basis of a petition filed by RTI activist Achyuta Kumar Sahu, who alleged that the record and custody details of 14 children born in the obstetrics and gynaecology department between December 26, 2018 and March 2, 2025, could not be furnished by the hospital. These babies had been born to destitute and mentally-unstable women, he said.
Sahu, in a petition on April 6, urged the state chief secretary, Health secretary, secretary of Women and Child Development department, principal secretary of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, RDC and collector Cuttack to investigate the matter.
Sahu stated that he sought details regarding the whereabouts of these newborns but failed to receive a satisfactory response from the hospital authorities.
Generally, pregnant women, who are destitute or suffering from mental illness, are rescued and admitted to the hospital by social organisations or individual social activists for child birth. The standard protocol mandates that after delivery, the newborns be handed over to the childcare institutions through coordination between the child welfare committee (CWC) and district child protection officer (DCPO).
However, SCB MCH management claimed it had handed over the babies to those who brought the women for medical treatment. It could not furnish their subsequent records or custody details.
“Authorities of SCB MCH bypassing the mandatory legal procedures handed over the newborn babies to those who brought the women for medical treatment. Their subsequent records or custody details could not be traced, raising serious questions about where the babies were sent and to whom they were handed over,” stated Sahu in his petition.
Alleging that the babies might have been sold, he urged the authorities concerned to initiate a thorough investigation into the matter and take exemplary action against all those found to be negligent.