Grandmother sells grandson for ₹200
She hoped that they would provide him with better care, food, shelter, and education, resources she couldn't afford.
KATHMANDU: In an incident in Odisha’s Badlia village, 65-year-old Mand Soren, grappling with profound poverty and personal loss, made the agonizing decision to entrust her 7-year-old grandson to an unknown couple for a mere ₹200.
She hoped that they would provide him with better care, food, shelter, and education, resources she couldn’t afford.
Mand Soren’s life has been marked by hardship: her husband passed away years ago, her son went missing, and her daughter-in-law died during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Homeless and without land or government assistance, she moved in with her sister in Raipal village, where she resorted to begging to survive. As her health declined, caring for her grandson became increasingly difficult, leading her to make the painful decision to give him away.
The situation came to light when a local panchayat member alerted authorities. The police intervened, rescuing the child and placing him in a child care home.
Investigations revealed that Mand Soren’s actions were driven by a desire to ensure her grandson’s well-being, not financial gain.
Community members are now advocating for government support for Mand Soren, including pension benefits and housing assistance, to prevent such desperate measures in the future.
This incident sheds light on the severe challenges faced by marginalized communities in India, where poverty and lack of support systems force individuals to make unimaginable choices.
