Forced by poverty, a farm worker sold her 11-month-old baby boy for Rs 30,000 to a childless couple in Kowdipally of Medak district, just 50 km from the city, to pay for the medical treatment of her father.
The issue came to light on Tuesday when K. Yasodha, 25, asked for Rs 20,000 more from the buyer, K. Venkati, a week after the deal. The matter reached the police when the village elders failed to resolve the issue amicably. Both Ms Yasodha and Mr Venkati work as farm labour and depend on the NREGS.
“I sold the baby to pay for my father’s medical expenses. He is suffering with severe throat ulcers,” Ms Yashodha said. “I have spent Rs 10,000 on medicines for my father and the remaining Rs 20,000 is with my brother,” she said. Police said the family did not have an Arogyasri health insurance card. “But her family is poor and works as labourers in the fields.”