India’s continuing saga of poverty, sex discrimination.
By The American Bazaar Staff
BANGALORE: A couple in the West Bengal town of Malda is at the center of a police investigation, after allegedly agreeing to sell the woman’s unborn child for Rs. 30,000 (approximately $500), then reneging on the deal when the child turned out to be a boy.
Ruma and Pradyot (last names unidentified) found themselves expecting a second child several months ago, having already had a daughter three years earlier. According to the Times News Network, when husband Pradyot found out about the new child, he told his wife Ruma to get an abortion, as they were financially unable to support another child.
Their neighbors, Mithun and Sikha Halder, came to know of their predicament. Childless and greatly desiring a kid of their own, they offered to buy the unborn child from Ruma and Pradyot for a sum of Rs. 30,000. For Pradyot, a small-market trader, the money was much needed. On top of that, Mithun Halder, a plumber, also offered to front any medical costs incurred during Ruma’s pregnancy and labor.
When Ruma finally received labor pains, she and Pradyot, along with her parents, went to the Malda Medical College and Hospital to give birth. In an effort to avoid possible complications with handing over the child post-delivery, they registered themselves under the Halders’ names, ready to give up the baby once it entered the world.
That is, until it turned out to be a boy.
Upon discovering that Ruma had given birth to a boy, her parents immediately stopped Pradyot from giving the baby away by notifying local police of what happened. Pradyot was reportedly questioned by police, where he admitted to not wanting the child, but said he never agreed to sell the baby for money. Mithun has reportedly verified the account that Ruma’s parents told police.
Police told Times News Network that they have not yet made any arrests, but are gathering all the relevant facts of the case. The story, however, is yet another unfortunate chapter in India’s continuing stigma against female children.
Even in the US, the problem remains for some families. Just last week, a California woman was acquitted of murdering her mother-in-law, after she argued that the murder was in self-defense. According to Baljinder Kaur, she was forced to kill Baljit Kaur, her husband’s mother, when the latter woman attacked Baljinder to destroy the unborn female fetus in her womb.