This story is from June 22, 2021

Odisha: Infant sold by mother for money in Kendrapada district rescued

A 10-month-old baby girl was rescued on Monday and lodged at a government-run Child Care Institute (CRI) at Kora village in Kendrapada district, after her mother sold her off for Rs 5,000 on Sunday due to poverty.
Odisha: Infant sold by mother for money in Kendrapada district rescued
Representative image
KENDRAPADA: A 10-month-old baby girl was rescued on Monday and lodged at a government-run Child Care Institute (CRI) at Kora village in Kendrapada district, after her mother sold her off for Rs 5,000 on Sunday due to poverty.
The incident was reported from Mahuri village under Rajkanika police station after abject poverty drove Arundhuti Raul (34), mother of three daughters, to sell the infant to a childless man of a nearby village.

Arundhuti's husband Samir Raul deserted her last year after 11 years of marriage. She was living with her parents at Mahuli.
"She used to work as domestic help to eke out a living. But due to the pandemic she did not get any work and it became difficult for her to run the household. So she sold her daughter to meet the expenses," said Mamata Manjari Mallick, the sarpanch of Mahuli gram panchayat.
Some villagers informed police and district administration about the incident leading to the infants rescue.
"We also rehabilitated the two minor daughters of Arundhuti in the CRI, said Pravas Chandra Das, the district child protection officer (DCPO) of Kendrapada.
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