Nidhi bids adieu to Kerala

KOCHI: Baby Nidhi had her first train journey on Monday. She will reach her parents’ hometown by Tuesday morning. As of now, Nidhi is safe inside the Alappuzha-Dhanbad Express, sleeping on foster mother, K S Sini's lap.

Some months back, a newborn was abandoned in a Kochi hospital by a couple from Jharkhand. The news garnered big attention across the state, and eventually, CWC decided to adopt the baby. It was Kerala’s health minister who named her Nidhi.

A special team left Ernakulam at 7 am on Monday to hand over the baby to the Jharkhand Child Welfare Committee. The train will reach Ranchi Junction at 5 am on Tuesday. Later, the team with the baby will have to travel almost two hours by road to the CWC headquarters in the Lohardaga district of Jharkhand. Milk, clothes and other essentials have been packed for the baby.

Sini, an officer of the Ernakulam District Child Welfare Committee, is tasked with the duty of handing over the baby to the CWC. CWC Protection Officer Shano Jose, Caretaker Mithun, Police Officers Shaiji, Pramila, Prasanna and Social Worker Rohit are accompanying Nidhi on the journey.

"Nidhi was with us for three or four months. As per the CWC order, we have to hand over the baby," said Sini, crestfallen, knowing that she barely has hours left in the company of her beloved Nidhi.

Mangaleswar and Ranjitha, who were workers at a fish farm in Kottayam are Nidhi’s parents. The Jharkhand CWC has informed the parents of Nidhi's arrival

Ranjitha, who experienced labour pains while travelling home on January 29, gave birth at Ernakulam General Hospital. The baby, not fully grown, was transferred to a private hospital. The parents abandoned the baby and fled after it seemed impossible for them to pay two lakh rupees for treatment. The government took over the baby and named it 'Nidhi'.

The Jharkhand CWC will now have to decide whether to release the baby to the parents.