CB BureauThe Cradle Baby scheme, under which cradles are placed at various locations to receive female children abandoned by their parents, has been extended to five more districts in Tamil Nadu.
The scheme is aimed at improving the child sex ratio (CSR) by curtailing female infanticide and abandoning of the girl child, which has been an issue of concern in the districts of Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Villupuram, and Tiruvannamalai, where the scheme has now been extended.
Cradles will be placed at hospitals, primary health centres, orphanages, and children’s homes, where people abandon their girl child owing to either circumstances or sheer unwillingness to bring up a girl child. Women from poor families have found this scheme to be a boon.
According to the official release from the state government, full-fledged reception centres at an estimated cost of Rs 47. 45 lakh will be opened in the districts. A supervisor, a nursing assistant, and supporting staff will be appointed in these centres. Sufficient amounts of milk powder, medicines, and clothes will be provided.
The scheme, which was introduced by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to eliminate female infanticide, shows a significant mark in the Census. Dharmapuri, Salem, Theni, and Namakkal, identified as high-risk districts in 2001, have shown an increase in the child sex ratio.
The overall ratio has improved in Tamil Nadu in the provisional population figures of the 2011 Census. According to the data sheet, the ratio improved from 942 females per thousand males in 2001 to 946 females per thousand males in 2011.
About 3,200 baby girls were rescued and left in the custody of the government. As many as 582 baby boys were also rescued. Further, 2,088 girls and 372 boys had been adopted. A total of 170 girls and 27 boys were adopted by couples from foreign countries, while 13 girls and 5 boys were adopted by non-resident Indians.
Interestingly, 160 children were taken back by their biological parents.