Sana Altaf
SRINAGAR: Around 20 newly born babies were found abandoned in two major hospitals of valley last year, according to sources in the police department.
They said 13 newborns were found abandoned at Lal Ded Maternity Hospital in the year 2012 while seven babies were found abandoned in G B Pant Hospital for Children.
Most of the abandoned infants were baby girls.
Sources in Police Department told Rising Kashmir that the issue of “abandoned and unclaimed” babies is prevalent not only in Srinagar but other areas as well.
“The issue of unclaimed and abandoned children is prevalent in district hospitals as well,” sources said. They added that people usually do not abandon children in and around their native places but move to other districts.
“For the fear of getting caught, children are left in hospitals of other districts. They hardly leave them in hospitals near their residence,” sources said, adding primary reasons for deserting children are poverty and bias against the girl child. However, a source ruled out issue of “illegitimacy” in these cases.
“It is very rare that children left by parents are illegitimate. Usually when a couple is poor or has many children it becomes very difficult to bear the expenses for their upbringing,” sources said.
Dr Mohammad Salim Khan, Deputy Medical Superintendent, G B Pant Hospital expressed concern over growing trend of unclaimed children in Kashmir. “It reflects collective conscience of the community and our moral degradation,” Dr Khan said.
He added such things are not issues per se but outcome of loss moral values, immorality, promiscuity, waywardness which need social policing at all levels, from homes to educational institutions and work places.
Sociologists view it as a dangerous trend which needs to be condemned and controlled. Bashir Ahmad Dabla, sociologist cited three reasons for the shameful trend in Valley.
“First reason is materialism in life because of which people do not want many children,” said Dabla adding moral degradation has added to the upcoming trend of ditching children.
“There is gender discrimination because of which people desert girl child at the time of birth only.” Dabla said rise in pre-marital and extra-marital relations has also added to “menace”.
“We need to control the situation before it turns grave. Society has to wake up.”
(Courtesy: Rising Kashmir)
