Poor response to Mamatheya Thottilu; only two infants surrendered in cradles across the state in a year

Despite encouraging people to deliver babies safely at Mamatheya Thottilu rather than leaving them in the garbage, on the bus, train or other places, the program has not received much positive response.

According to data, only two babies were born to Mamatheya Thottilu in the last year. One of the babies was in Tumakuru and the other was in Mysuru.

Arundhati TS, Deputy Director, State Adoption Resource Authority (SARA), said, “Two babies were found in Tumakuru and Mysuru. After a legal process involving the police, Child Welfare Committee, doctors and other stakeholders, the details of the babies were updated on the website to find potential parents for adoption. Parents who register on the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) portal can view the details of the babies.”

Ms. Arundhati explained: “The reason for the bad response is lack of awareness among people and fear of their identities being revealed. Most of the cribs we place are in district government hospitals, child care institutions and District Child Welfare offices. We pick up babies found in front of temples, government hospitals, petrol depots, bus stations, railway stations. But people are afraid to hand them over in cribs. There are 46 such cribs across the state.”

When asked whether an FIR would be registered against those who surrender the child at Mamatheya Thottilu or elsewhere, Ms. Arundhati said: “This is not about filing an FIR or punishing them. We trace the mother or parents or guardians to find out the reasons for abandoning the baby and register the child for adoption after following a protocol and obtaining a birth certificate for the baby within a certain time frame. Police do not lodge an FIR in such a case under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015” But this depends on different situations and It depends on the reasons for abandoning the child.”

lack of awareness

Child rights advocate Vasudev Sharma said, “It is disappointing to read the news of young girls giving birth to babies in the toilet without being able to express it to their parents and teachers. This is due to the lack of sexual education in schools and programs like Mamatheya Thottilu. Not only school girls, such cases are also seen among unmarried women. They do not disclose their relationships and pregnancy due to fear of parents. When they give birth, babies are abandoned in unsafe places. Therefore, awareness needs to be created among people about this issue.” program.”