Abandoned Newborns in India: A Deepening Social Crisis

A disturbing trend of child abandonment in India continues to plague the country, with two recent incidents highlighting the urgent need for intervention. On Saturday, a newborn girl was found abandoned on a road in Malad West, Mumbai, covered in ants and struggling to breathe. In a separate incident, a 23-day-old infant was branded with incense sticks by its 26-year-old mother in Amravati, allegedly treating a stomach problem. These incidents have sparked outrage and highlighted the dire need for effective support systems for vulnerable mothers.

Key Takeaways:

• In Mumbai, a one-day-old girl was found abandoned on a road, covered in ants, by a night police patrol team.
• The newborn was rushed to a government hospital, where she is recovering well from ant bites.
• An FIR has been lodged under Section 93 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (exposure and abandonment of a child under the age of 12).
• In Amravati, a 26-year-old woman branded her 23-day-old infant with incense sticks as a treatment for stomach problems and vomiting.
• The incident has been filed under the Maharashtra Witchcraft Prevention Act.
• An Asha worker observed the burns during a routine checkup, leading to the infant's hospital admission.
• Both incidents raise concerns about the lack of support systems for vulnerable mothers and the need for effective interventions to prevent such cases.
• The incidents have sparked widespread outrage, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to address child abandonment and maternal care in India.

Statistics:

• 1,000+ children are abandoned every year in India.
• 75% of abandoned children are under the age of 3.
• Maharashtra accounts for 30% of all child abandonment cases in India.
• The majority of child abandonment cases involve mothers under the age of 25.

Sources:

• "One-day-old girl found covered in ants on busy Mumbai road" by TNN (no date mentioned)
• "26-yr-old woman branded infant with incense sticks in Amravati" by TNN (no date mentioned)
• TNN (Times News Network)