Days after Tripura Leader of Opposition Jitendra Choudhary alleged that a poverty-stricken mother had to sell her child highlighting administrative apathy, Tripura Minister Sushanta Choudhary who also happens to be the cabinet spokesperson, dismissed the former’s claims.

According to Choudhary, the opposition party had tried its best to paint the incident in a different light to exert pressure on the state government. In reality, the mother had willingly donated her child to a childless couple hailing from Hejamara area of West Tripura. The process of adoption could not be carried out as there were some legal complications.

“The woman identified as Marmari Tripura gave birth to her sixth child. The allegation was that she sold the child in lieu of five thousand rupees. As soon as the news spread, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha ordered the officials to look into the matter. As per the report of the District Magistrate Dhalai, it was found that the eldest son (19 years old) of the lady is settled at Bangalore. The second girl child is married,” the minister said.

“The 15 year old third child is class VII students and the younger ones respectively study in class VI and class III. Her husband, Purnajay Tripura died six months back. Barring her two children who are married, the rest of the others are enrolled in schools. The family also has a valid ration card and they lift the monthly ration in time. She was pregnant when her husband died. She tried to abort the child but due to the medical complications, the doctor refused her proposal of abortion,” the minister added.

Describing how the baby was handed over to a childless couple, he said, “On May 22, she gave birth to her sixth child. After the baby was born, she willingly handed over the child to a childless couple identified as Binay Kumar Debbarma and Sashichandra Debbarma of Hejamara. The couple might have some acquaintance with the lady, which is how they came in contact with each other. On May 23, Binay Kumar Debbarma received the baby from the biological mother of the child.”

“On being informed, local CDPO (Child Development Project Officer) and DCM of the subdivision intervened into the matter and found that the adoption process was not legally viable. In presence of ASHA and Anganwadi workers, Tripura Commissioner for Protection of Child Rights went to Gandacherra. Proper counseling was done and for further treatment the mother and the newborn had been shifted to a Dhalai district hospital for better treatment,” he added.

Accusing the Leader of the Opposition of attempting to take credit for the whole administrative process, the Minister said, “We have seen that the Leader of Opposition had been giving statements as if he had brought the issue into the notice of the administration and it was because of him the whole matter was resolved. It was a scripted drama that was staged using the incident as a backdrop with a mix of some twisted facts.”

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