Model Cradle Point opened at JNIMS
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 15 2024: A Model Cradle Point set up by the Social Welfare Department in front of the office of the medical superintendent (MS) of JNIMS Hospital, Porompat under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme of HDFC Bank was inaugurated on Thursday afternoon.

The inaugural function was attended by JNIMS MS Dr Khu-mukcham Lokeshwar, HDFC Bank area manager Koijam Odikanta and Social Welfare Department (Child Protection) deputy director Konsam Saroja and other officials.

Speaking on the occasion, Social Welfare director Ng Uttam informed that the cradle point has been installed taking into account safety aspect and is equipped with an alarm system to alert as and when a baby is placed.

He continued that the main objective of the Department is to save the lives of new-borns, who are often abandoned or dumped in unsafe places by irresponsible parents or due to financial constraints.

Such parents often take the inhumane step in an attempt to hid away their mistakes or avoid social stigma and shame.

Even if they (parents) do not want to shoulder responsibility for upbringing of the unwanted child, they should still save the life of the innocent baby as there are many childless couples who want to adopt and give a home to such babies, he explained.

The director also bemoaned that often times, abandoned babies who manage to survive, are found bitten by or infested with bugs and dirt, which makes the work of the doctors and department staff extremely difficult.

Uttam then said that if a parent places the baby at the cradle point, the baby will receive immediate medical attention and taken to an adoption centre - Mission Vatsalya.

The Department had previously set up model cradle points in front of children homes, observation homes, etc., and will soon open similar ones at Thoubal District Hospital, Kumbi CHC and Chandel District Hospital, including another one at Churachandpur District Hospital equipped with alarm system.

Stating that many innocent lives have been saved in the past, he appealed to nurses assigned at the cradle points to check the same as frequently as possible.

There is no need to search for those who have abandoned the babies, as our role is to save the baby, not to identify the parents to punish them, Uttam said.

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