Recovery of abandoned bodies of infants
SHILLONG: Recovery of bodies of several abandoned new born babies from across the State in the last two months have raised alarm bells with regards to the status of women in Meghalaya, which is known for its matrilineal traditions.
The latest addition to the series of recovery of bodies of abandoned infants was made on Saturday last when police found a decomposed body of a new born at Wahumkhrah river near Jingthangbriew Bridge in Jaiaw area of the city.
The new born was probably six- months-old. On the same day, the body of a new born baby girl, abandoned by her mother, was retrieved from a cemetery in Williamnagar town of East Garo Hills District.
It is strongly suspected that the mother might have abandoned the child after inducing labour. Police have begun an investigation to identify the woman.
Earlier on November 4, the body of a new born baby girl was recovered from Law-Ap, Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills District. Two days earlier, police recovered the body of a new born girl with a name tag on her wrist from Umshyrpi river in Jhalupara area.
The body had a name tag – Shila Singh – tied on her wrist.
On June 7, the body of a new born baby was recovered from the Simsang river near the PWD Colony, Williamnagar in East Garo Hills.
On May 4, an abandoned new born baby was recovered from the jungle near Sangmein playground at 5th Mile, Upper Shillong by a local resident. The baby was later shifted to PHC, Pomlum.
Prior to this, another new born was left to die by its mother in a shoe box in the same Williamnagar town while in Tura another new born infant had died after being abandoned by its mother inside a cemetery in Araimile area, last year.
Most of the dead bodies which have been recovered were female child.
Principal Secretary, Social Welfare Department, PW Ingty,while reacting to the spate of recovery of bodies of abandoned babies, said that it is a matter of serious concern.
He said that the matter would be discussed with the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) and the department may even request the Commission to organise workshops and awareness programmes.
“It is also important for us to find out what could be the reason behind mothers abandoning their new born babies,” Ingty said.
On the other hand, Chairperson of MSCW, Theilin Phanbuh, while expressing concern over the trend, said that such kind of incident was never experienced in Meghalaya earlier. She admitted that there is a need to organise more awareness programmes on the matter.
She even welcomed the idea of coming up with stringent legislation to put a stop on such evil practices.
While terming the act of abandoning babies as inhuman and cruel, she maintained that the culprits need to be punished as per the law of the land.