Fearing job loss, government teacher dumps 4th child in forest
What's the story
In a shocking incident in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district, a three-day-old infant was abandoned by his parents in the Nandanwadi forest. The parents, Bablu Dandoliya and Rajkumari Dandoliya, both primary school teachers, decided to leave their newborn under a rock after fearing job loss for having a fourth child, according to NDTV. The couple already had three children aged eight, six, and four.
Job concerns
Couple kept pregnancy a secret
Fearful that the husband's job might be at risk because of government rules restricting employment for families with more than two children, the couple decided to keep the pregnancy a secret and abandoned the baby soon after his birth on September 23. The newborn was left under a rock in the forest, where he spent a night exposed to cold and insect bites before being discovered by villagers.
Baby rescued
Baby rescued by villagers
In the morning, villagers in Nandanwadi heard the cries and found the abandoned newborn in the forest near Road Ghat. They alerted the police who rescued the infant and rushed him to a local health center for initial treatment. The baby was later referred to Chhindwara district hospital for further care. Doctors confirmed that he had ant bites and symptoms of hypothermia but was now safe under medical supervision.
Legal proceedings
Parents arrested, legal action underway
A case has been registered against the Dandoliyas under Section 93 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for abandoning their newborn. Further sections, including 109 BNS (attempt to murder), may be added after legal review. Madhya Pradesh has a two-child policy for government employees. The policy was introduced in Madhya Pradesh in 2000 and came into effect in January 2001. According to its terms, any public employee who has a third child after January 26, 2001, can be dismissed.