Hyderabad: Incidences of newborn babies being abandoned in garbage dumps and by the roadsides and stray dogs feasting on them have become common. While many of these are born out of illegal relationships, a few are unwanted pregnancies and some are female toddlers.
In 2007, the government had launched a scheme Ooyala to rescue the discarded babies. However, it was scrapped following criticism from different quarters, said officials.
The Ooyala was aimed at curbing deaths of newborns and female infanticide. As part of the scheme, the women and child welfare department had set up cradles at government hospitals, primary health centres, aanganwadi centres, shishu vihars, temples and at designated spots near bus stations, railway stations and other places where hospitals are located.
The cradles helped single mothers, who were not willing to own their child and those born out of illegal relationships find a new hope. These babies were left in the cradles and were taken care by the department. Officials said there was a good response to the scheme that helped to rescue many babies.
While the scheme increase number of children at the Sishu Vihar, it also added financial burden on the department while there was no increase in manpower to look after the children, an official from the women and child welfare department said.
However, the scheme was criticised by human rights groups. They found fault with its implementation.
“They said that the scheme was encouraging parents to abandon their children. They also said that Juvenile Justice Act mandates that any child should be under the care of their parents,” another official said, and added that the successive governments failed to take up this project.
