Child Care Centre in Sirsa for 'unwanted' children

Chandigarh, Jan 31 (UNI) To check female foeticide and to provide shelter to abandoned infants the Sirsa District Administration has established a Child Care Centre in the local civil hospital.

According to an official release, the centre would look after the upbringing of infants abandoned by their parents in hospitals and other places. The centre would also provide shelter to those infants whose parents found themselves incapable of rearing them, however an affidavit will be taken from the parents regarding the disowning of the child. The names of such parents will not be disclosed.

"Due to the strict action of the administration against female foeticide many women are not opting for abortions. In such cases if a woman give birth to a female child and she expresses her incapability for its upbringing the centre will take the child's responsibility.

The infants will be kept on temporary basis in this local child care center and all health related facilities will be provided by the District Administration and after that they will be sent to Child Home in Rai or Panchkula.

This innovative scheme is implemented on the lines of similar scheme that has been launched in Tamil Nadu.

In Tamil Nadu many such Child Care Centres have been opened in Angaanwadi centres to look after the orphans and abandoned children and the one in Sirsa will be one of its kinds in the state, Sirsa Deputy Commissioner V Umashankar said in the release.

UNI PS VN1656