Malda family wants to sell child for Rs 10K

Subhro Maitra | TNN



Malda: An impoverished couple in Malda has decided to sell one of their five children to anyone who pays Rs 10,000. Kayesh Sheikh and his wife Arina Bibi of Sailpur, 20 km from Malda town, have been putting up placards announcing this at their village. Hundreds of villagers are mute spectators to this “shame”, but little has been done to alleviate their condition.
Kayesh and Arina have three sons and two daughters. Kayesh had worked as a migrant labourer in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and earned enough for sustenance. However, tragedy befell him three years ago in Hyderabad, when he fell from a mobile tower and broke his spine. “I returned home but never fully recovered,” said Kayesh. The cost of treating Kayesh, combined with running their seven-member household, proved too much for the couple. “We had to sell every household item to feed the children,” said Arina.
The couple had to depend on neighbours’ help, but it wasn’t enough. “They help us out, but how much can they do?” said Kayesh. Daughter Khosenur and son Anwar sometimes help out as agricultural labourers, and thus have little formal education. “If any couple offers us Rs 10,000, I’ll sell one of my children to treat my husband,” said a weeping Arina.
“Their condition is pathetic,” said Tafijul Hossain, gram panchayat member of Narhatta. “But they don’t have their names registered on the BPL list, which would have ensured some help.”
Malda SDO Prakash Pal said: “The administration is ready to take the responsibility of the children if the parents find them a burden,” he said, assuring that he would send teams to the village to look into the matter...published in TOI on 26.02.10