Human face of hunger: baby sold in Orissa village
On hearing CNN-IBN news reports that labourer, Bipin Gagarai, had sold his newborn to perform the last rites of his wife who died during childbirth, ActionAid’s indigenous people’s rights team went to investigate.
Local government officials have brought back the baby but the father, living in dire poverty, says the family is not in a position to take care of the child.
“I am glad to see my child but not happy at his return. The child would have got better care than what I can afford,” father Bipin told an ActionAid field worker. “I will not be able to manage three children without work and food,” he added.
This incident shows the kind of stark choices faced by millions living with extreme poverty and hunger in India.
"I had no money with me. I was totally helpless, so I told one of my friends that I wanted to sell my baby to pay for the expenses. He arranged a buyer, and I sold him my son for Rs 1200,” he
explained to CNN-IBN.
Orissa has been the most coveted breeding ground for industrial giants; entire communities have been displaced, loosing land, livelihood and homes.
Sahupur village where Bipin’s family lives is just 7 kilometers from Kalinga Nagar Industrial Complex of Jajpur district of Orissa. Kalinga Nagar hit the headlines in January 2006 when 13 tribals were killed as police fired on a peaceful demonstration by people trying to protect their land. There are now 10 industrial houses in the
area.
“This community has lost its traditional livelihood (collecting non-timber forest produce) due to industry take over of land. Despite loud claims of jobs and rehabilitation packages, the industries are failing to provide any work on a sustained basis to the tribals,” said Bratindi Jena, who leads ActionAid’s work with indigenous groups.
After meeting the family, ActionAid field worker Deba is helping them take their case forward with local officials.
“The family is in pitiable state, there was not even milk for the newborn who lost his mother”, reported Deba. “There are about eight villages facing hunger and almost all of them belong to the
Bhuiya tribe,” Deba.
Deba bought milk for the baby and talked to the local officials to provide a sack of rice so that the rest of the family (father Bipin, three year old daughter, a six year old son and elderly grandfather who is blind) can have food till Bipin finds work.
ActionAid has also written to the officials to speed up the process for finding work for the father (Bipin Gagarai).
“District officials have promised work for Bipin under the NREGA (rural employment guarantee scheme) but the family has no means to survive in the meantime. Returning the baby without offering further support puts the child at real risk of being sold once more or face starvation death,” said Jena.
“There is an urgent need for prompt action by government to prevent suicides and hunger deaths due to poverty across the country,” she added.
This article is part of ActionAid’s Hunger Monitoring project; a collaboration with journalists and community activists to expose hidden hunger and prompt authorities to take action.
17 July 2007
Photos credit: CNN-IBN
