BENGALURU: Krishnaveni may have been born in prison, but she didn’t go without a namakaranam (naming) ceremony. The
Raichur district prison department ensured that the
newborn got her due, with buntings and flowers decorating her cradle.
Shishabai, alias
Bhagyamma, an undertrial, was five months’ pregnant when she was put behind bars, and she delivered the baby when she was in judicial custody.
District principal and sessions judge
Byluru Shankar named the baby at a small function, hosted by the district child protection unit, district legal services authority, women and child welfare department, prison and police departments, and prisoners.
It was a happy event in the prison, and fellow undertrials and staff did their bit to make the atmosphere celebratory.
A jail official said that Shishabai may be an undertrial, but she is also a mother, and should not be denied these small pleasures. Judge Byluru Shankar was instrumental in holding the event, the officer said.
After the ceremony, Judge Shankar told the media that the girl was named Krishnaveni, after Lord
Krishna, who was also born in prison, and that there was no reason to be ashamed of it as India has a history of jail births.
Judge Shankar also directed the women and child welfare department to ensure that both mother and child are given all facilities at the right time. He also directed the women and child welfare department to ensure that Krishnaveni gets all the rights she is entitled to as a child.
Nagaraj, director, district child protection unit, said that such events would make a difference to other undertrials.