law student plays Good Samaritan, rescues girl child

Playing a Good Samaritan, a student of Chotanagpur law College, Gaurav Poddar on Saturday rescued and admitted an abandoned newborn baby girl to a nearby city hospital. A second year law student, Poddar said that he was passing by Morhabadi Ground around 10 AM when he saw that a few cleanliness workers of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) had gathered there, appearing both panicky and hesitant about something.

Out of curiosity, Poddar and one of his friends Anuradha decided to enquire about the exact situation. “It was around 10 AM when I first saw this abandoned girl child near Morhabadi ground. A few sanitation workers were discussing about the child but everyone there was hesitant about what to do next. As a responsible citizen without giving any second thought, I first took the child to Rani Children Hospital,” Poddar said.

He further stated that he was informed that the newborn infant was dumped in bushes. On asking about the child’s health, Poddar said, “The girl child has been diagnosed with jaundice but her condition is stable. She is under observation of doctors. By the time, I was there at the hospital; the child was undergoing treatment under Dr. Vinod’s team.”

Furthermore, Poddar said that the hospital administration admitted the child without delay and making much fuss about her background. “No money was charged from us while without much holdup the infant was admitted at the neonatal wing. According to the child specialist report, the girl child is merely of three to four days.”

Meanwhile, District legal Services Authority (DlSA) Chairman cum Judicial Commissioner Navneet Kumar took suo motu cognisance of the incident instructing DlSA Secretary Faheem Kirmani to ensure all proper arrangement for the newborn child at the hospital. Taking preliminary steps, ‘Karuna’ — an NGO for abandoned children has been informed about the case. Also, members of Child Welfare Committee (CWC) have been informed.

A special panel comprising advocates Kirti Narayan Singh and Para legal Volunteers (PlVs) Sikandar Kumar, Anita Devi has been constituted. The panel members visited the hospital to know the condition of the infant and were in hospital till late evening. After getting discharge slip from the hospital, the newborn will be sent to ‘Karuna’ for further care. Poddar informed the Pioneer that two to three NGOs have shown interest in the case, however, due to legal constraints, no decision can be taken in haste.