A migrant laborer in India sold off his 15-day-old daughter for food

News24xx.com - The migrant crisis in India has a crippled economy and livelihood. People are facing the worst of the times as the pandemic which has created destruction in that country. 

And in a tragic incident, a migrant laborer in Assam sold off his 15-day-old daughter for Rs 45,000. However, the baby was rescued by the police.

Two women and a man have been arrested by the police on accounts of human trafficking. 

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A resident of Dhantola Mandaria, Dipak Brahma who lives in this forest village in Kokrajhar district had recently returned from Gujarat where he used to work as a laborer. While coronavirus hit us, he became jobless, and finding work was impossible. He was unable to meet his family needs according to the NGO official who works against human trafficking.

After returning to Assam, the family started living at the house of his in-laws in Kachugaon Patakata Village, the same district and they were facing a lot of problems due to the no job issue, as told by the neighbors.  

During this time, Dipak’s wife gave birth to a girl child, their second daughter. Their elder daughter is one year old, said Digamber Narzary -Nedan Foundation chairman.

"Brahma tried to find a job during the coronavirus pandemic but it was hard to come by. With almost all doors to earn a living closed, Brahma decided to sell the newborn," he further added.

The man sold his daughter to two women for Rs 45,000 ( Rp 9 juta) on July 2 but kept the news hidden from his wife, said Narzary. 

Brahma’s wife and villagers filed a complaint at Kochugoan police station. 

"On receiving the complaint, police swung into action and rescued the baby from the two sisters. We also arrested the man (Brahma)," police said.

During interrogation, the two women claimed that they had bought the baby for a couple who is childless and is related to them. 

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"We are really thankful to the police for rescuing the baby. But the issue is of very serious nature. Because of the lockdown, poor people do not have any work. The situation is getting worse for those living in forest villages," Narzary said.

The laborers have returned in huge numbers to their homes in Assam from different states after they all became jobless during the coronavirus lockdown.

Even though the state government had announced that they will surely create job opportunities for the migrant workers through various initiatives which include the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the COVID-19 outbreak has badly hit most economic activities in the state.