The innovative “Cradle Baby Scheme” has won accolades in India as well as from other countries. Under this scheme, cradles are placed at locations like Hospitals, Primary Health Centres, Orphanages and Children Homes which are likely to receive female children which are abandoned by their parents due to social circumstances. Full-fledged reception centres have been set up at Madurai, Theni, Salem, Dindigul and Dharmapuri districts and Primary Health Centres in the districts which are prone to female infanticide have been equipped to receive female babies. Cradles totaling 188 have been placed in the District Social Welfare Offices / Primary Health Centres / Primary Health Sub Centres. Children received at the cradle points are handed over to reception centres for rehabilitation. The Government has also been propagating against female infanticide.

All for male child

Besides, children of deserted wives and children born out of wedlock were regularly abandoned at the centre. Of these, it was the third or fourth child that was the most vulnerable as it was surrendered for the birth of a male child.

A woman from Periyakuranpatti surrendered her seventh child following compulsion from her eldest daughter and son. But the woman is yet to undergo family planning operation. Another woman surrendered her ninth child because the family was illiterate and also keen on having a male child.