Indian Battle Over Infants: Girl Abandoned While Boy Is Claimed by Two Couples

By Sami K. Martin, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Two infants are at the center of a dispute between two Indian couples, who each claim that they are the parents of a baby boy, not a baby girl. The dispute highlights the national and cultural disparity between girls and boys and has caused outrage over the treatment of the infant girl.

Poonam Kanwar gave birth to an unnamed baby girl on March 25, but she now claims that she actually gave birth to a boy and that the hospital switched the infants. A baby boy was born at approximately the same time to Reshmi Devi.

"The negligent staff, whom we have given disciplinary notices, handed the boy to Poonam by mistake," hospital superintendent Narendra Chhaangai told the Times of India.

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"We tried to convince Poonam's family that she gave birth to the girl. We also proved it medically by matching the blood groups, but they refused to accept the results and preferred to wait for the DNA report," he said.

Currently, the baby girl is still in the hospital, having been abandoned by her parents. The nursing staff has provided care for her. "It is very unfortunate that this girl is being punished for being a girl," one nurse told the Times.

"It is not a matter of her being a girl," explained the girl's father, Chain Singh, told the Times. "I just want to confirm that she is my daughter. They are telling me to give them in writing that I accept the girl, which I can't."

The case has sparked outcry about the plight of infant girls in the country. "In districts of western Rajasthan, including Jaisalmer and Barmer, cases of female feticide and infanticide are quite rampant due to a certain mindset," explained Lad Kumari Jain, who is the chairperson of the Rajasthan State Women's Commission.

"In these areas, there used to be death wells for newborn girls who were dumped into them after their murder."

"If the identity of the girl's parents is in question, the same goes for the boy's case. Why is only the girl child being abandoned?" Jain asked.

It has also been reported Tuesday that Poonam breastfed the baby girl, who had not had her mother's milk since birth. It could be a sign that the little girl will finally be able to leave the nursery and go home to a family.

"The couple did not accept the test and said that they will go for a DNA test. On Sunday, Chain Singh said that they were ready to take care of the girl and want to take her home. He was taking two stands, so I asked him for a written undertaking to avoid any further dispute," hospital superintendent Narendra Chhaangai has said.

"My wife offered breastfeeding in view of the baby's health," responded Chain Singh. "It is not true that I told the hospital administration that I am ready to take the baby home. Before the DNA test report, we cannot make a decision."

The report is due back any day, but until then, the infant girl will remain in the custody of the hospital.