Padma Das (left) takes her baby from Gurubari Behera. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, March 3: The district administration today started investigation into the alleged child sale incident in the city.

A team, including members of district administration, child welfare committee and voluntary groups, met Padma Das (30), the woman who had allegedly sold her six-month-old baby to Gurubari Behera (32) of Behera Sahi area in Chhatrabazar, for Rs 7,000 on last Sunday.

The team visited houses of both the women and discussed the issue with neighbours to ascertain the truth.

“As per orders from the district collector, we had come to meet both the women for spot inquiry and it is evident that there has been no child sale incident. The mother of the child (Padma) had actually given the custody of baby to her sister, one of her distant relatives,” said Srikant Mohanty, assistant district welfare officer.

Padma, a daily wage labourer from Berhampur, was staying at Teli Sahi near Ranihaat area for the past few years. She was unable to look after the second child after her husband had left her recently.

“We will prepare an action plan for the rehabilitation of Padma and initiate measures for her child’s education up to 18 years. However, everything depends on Padma’s cooperation,” Mohanty said.

“We have realised that there is no child sale. The mother had given the baby to her sister for better care and upbringing. We will try to take the custody of the child till further orders. At present, our priority is to ensure protection and upbringing of the child,” said Rini Mohanty, member of child welfare committee.

“Gurubari Behera, who now has the child’s custody, was unaware of the legal process for adoption. Hence, we will try to help her for adoption as per the guidelines if she is interested to keep the child’s custody,” she said.

Gurubari, a daily wage labourer, too, ekes out a living by selling fish. Her monthly income ranges between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,500.

Yesterday Gurubari said that she had purchased the baby from Padma by paying her Rs 7,000. However, both Padma and Gurubari today refuted any kind of transaction made in this regard.

“I know Padma and she has handed over the child’s custody to me as I do not have my own child. I haven’t paid any money to her,” said Gurubari.

“Since I couldn’t properly look after my five-year-old elder son, I decided to give my second child to my sister,” said Padma.