India: Agra couple allegedly sells their newborn to hospital for Rs1 lakh (Dh5,013) after struggling to pay bill

Dubai: A poor couple from Agra, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, allegedly sold their newborn baby to a hospital because they did not have the means to pay the bills. The hospital, however, denied the claim and have reportedly said that the baby was handed over to them to be put up for adoption.

According to Indian news reports, the newborn's mother, Babita delivered a baby boy last week. The C-section procedure cost the couple Rs30,000 (Dh1,504) and her medicines were worth Rs5,000 (Dh250).

The father Shiv Charan, a rickshaw puller did not have the money to pay the hospital bill. In an attempt to settle the bill, the couple sold the baby boy for Rs1 lakh.

Apparently, the couple, who cannot read or write, claimed that they put their thumb impressions on all documents, upon the instruction of the hospital staff. They did not get any discharge papers, and said the hospital paid them Rs1 lakh as they parted with the child.

Calling the incident a serious matter, district magistrate Prabhu N Singh, has said that an investigation will be conducted against those involved.

Meanwhile, the hospital has denied the allegation, claiming that the parents had given the baby up for adoption.

According to a news report, the manager of the hospital said: "These claims are wrong. We didn't force him to give up his child. He did so of his own accord. I have a copy of the written agreement signed by the parents, expressing his willingness."

The report added that Shiv and Babita are parents to five children and they live in a rented home in Shambhu Nagar. Shiv's eldest son used to work as a labourer at a shoe factory but he was left unemployed after the factory closed down due to COVID-19.

Twitter users are in shock. Tweep @sunil_4667 posted: “So shameful of our governments of 75 years that still Indian public do not get two decent meals, toilets, electricity, clean drinking water etc. Useless government full of corrupts.”

And, tagging authorities, another tweep @vktikoo posted: “Please take cognisance, ensure proper aid and medical supervision to the couple… the sale of babies is forbidden.”

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