In a bizarre incident, a tribal couple in Tripura has claimed that they were compelled to sell their newborn son, as they were unable to bear the cost of bringing it up.
The boy, the fourth child in the poverty ravaged family, was sold a day after his birth for Rs 4500.
The incident took place in bordering Khowai district's Munda Basti ADC (Autonomous District Council) village.
"When my wife was three months pregnant, we (my wife and I) contacted the doctor for aborting. But then, a few villagers came to know about it and suggested us not to abort the child and that they will put me in touch with someone who will take the baby and give it a better life. Accordingly, I then contacted those people, and last Tuesday (June 2), the child was born, and on Wednesday at 11.20 a.m., we handed over the child. Those who took my son we very happy and gave me Rs.4500," said Ranjit Tanti, the father of the baby.
"I am not feeling bad. Rather, I am happy, because I know that we couldn't have provided for him. He has gone to a rich family to live a better life, and I hope that in future, if he will be an owner of cars, I am happy."
Sima Tanti, the mother of the child, said she and her husband had decided to give the child away, as it was becoming impossible to run their family on their meagre income.
"I and my husband had decided to give away our son hoping that he will lead a better life, be able to study there. We are poor and cannot educate him, as we do not have the money," said Sima.
The child was bought by a couple of Duski village under Teliamura, 35 km from the village.
