Date:28/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/28/stories/2007112861481000.htm

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Baby girl abandoned in theatre

Staff Reporter

— Photo: K. Ananthan

FINDING WARMTH: A volunteer of Don Bosco Anbu Illam feeding a baby girl abandoned in a cinema hall in Coimbatore on Monday.

COIMBATORE: A three-month-old baby girl was abandoned by a woman in a movie theatre at Ondipudur here on Monday.

The woman handed over the baby to a couple sitting next to her during the intermission and requested them to look after her till she came back, said Christopher Jayaraj, Director of Don Bosco Anbu Illam.

She did not turn up and the couple, along with the manager of the theatre, informed the Singanallur police station. The baby was entrusted to the care of Anbu Illam.

“The baby is healthy and has no disability,” Fr. Jayaraj said. As the Anbu Illam did not have facilities to take care of the child, she was handed over to the Peace Home at Kalapatti. If nobody came forward to claim it, the baby would be put up for adoption after six months, Fr.Jayaraj said.

Such cases were common in Coimbatore, said N.Vanitha, chairperson of Sharanalayam, an institution near Pollachi taking care of orphaned and abandoned children.

Apart from cases in which unwed mothers abandoned new born babies in public places, cases of parents’ carelessness were also increasing.

Recently, a 12-year-old boy, Jabir, from Mysore was brought to Sharanalayam.

He was on his way to Tirumurthi Hills with his family. Mid way, he got off the bus and before he could board it, the bus left.

“Till date, nobody has come forward to claim the child,” Ms.Vanitha said. Efforts were on to trace the parents of the child.

Childline can be contacted at 1098 and Sharanalayam at 9842254204.