SikhSpectrum.com Quarterly Issue No.25, August 2006
Selling Price of My Child is Rs. 25
Gagan Grewal
“I’m ready to sell my child for Rs.25 with a profit of Rs.25 and at 100% loss to my motherhood” says a mother of 6 months old baby.
This is the condition of many parents in Orissa and other parts of India, who are selling their children for even smaller amount of money. Poverty is forcing them to commit this sin; they are poor and don’t have enough money to buy food for their family, even for a single day. If they don’t sell their children, their children will die out of hunger. ”I’m happy, my 7 years old boy fetched Rs.1000, enough to make provision for entire family members, atleast for some weeks”, says a father.
Wealthy people buy these children who are then required to do entire household work. The children are deprived of their basic rights, and here also they suffer malnutrition. Parents, on the other hand, hope their children are living a better life than what they could have offered them.
A few days ago it was reported in the newspaper and shown on television that a mandi (fair) was organized for trading young children. Brokers got commission that was more than the amount paid to the parents. I hope these brokers are now busy making arrangements for organizing a bigger auction. If that day ever comes, it will only bring greater shame.
I don’t know what the government has done in this regard; they appear to be sound asleep. If ever the government awoke from its slumber, I hope they remember their duties and responsibilities towards the citizens of the nation. Perhaps, they will organize a press conference and as usual will proclaim, ”we have formed a committee for doing investigation and very soon we will come out with results and strong action will be taken against those involved in it”.
I don’t understand what the government investigates and against whom.
Many social organizations have come forward but the problem lies deeper. Every person has a belly and the belly needs food. So, for a poor family, selling children is the first and the last option, and food bought from the money thus earned eventually poisons their morality.
