NCPCR mulling CBI probe in baby trafficking case

KOLKATA: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is mulling a CBI probe in the baby trafficking case. According to Rupa Kapoor, member of NCPCR who visited Baduria and Machhlandapur in North 24-Parganas on Wednesday to get a first hand knowledge, an international racket is involved.
Kapoor said NCPCR will ask the CID to submit their report soon. NCPCR, as a civil court, has the power to ask for reports and can summon any person.Kapoor said, “This trafficking network has many people outside Bengal. TWhen I visited the site, villagers told me that though they knew about illegal abortions and babies changing hands, the district administration was in the dark.”
Kapoor visited ESI hospital and Purbasha nursing home in Joka on Tuesday and found the children were fed expired baby food. In ESI hospital, there were 10 girl children who were well, but two weren’t. “I feel that as they were girl babies they were not adopted and are all malnourished.”
Biswas held a meeting with North 24-Parganas DM Antara Acharya and found many unregistered NGOs and nursing homes were operating without any monitoring. “Quacks operated in these unregistered nursing homes. I gave the DM 15 days to set up proper monitoring of these nursing homes and NGOs and asked to take help of police in scrutinising their licences.” She feared that though there were 447 nursing homes, the district administration lacked proper data.
Kapoor wanted a list of pregnant women in the district in the last year, as medical records of treatment of all pregnant mothers till their delivery either in hospitals or nursing homes are to be preserved. She asked to display notices in nursing homes and hospitals that baby trafficking is a penal offence. She asked ICDS staff to create awareness so that unwed mothers go to registered clinics. “An unwed mother should be aware of adoption rules if she wants to give her baby up for adoption.”
“I will be back on December 20 and by that time all NGOs and nursing homes should be brought within the legal ambit or be shut. Police and health officials should make regular raids. Statements of parents who had complained about still-born babies should be recorded.”