Shashi Panja launches Cradle Baby Reception Centre at Digha hospital

Kolkata: Shashi Panja, minister of state for Women and Child Development and Social Welfare inaugurated Palna, a Cradle Baby Reception Centre,

at Digha State General Hospital on Wednesday.

The centre is meant for children coming from economically-challenged background.

Sisir Adhikary MP and chairman of Digha Shankarpur Development Authority, Debrabata Das, Sabhadhipati Zilla Parishad and Sanghamitra Ghosh, secretary, Women and Child Development and Social Welfare were present at the inaugural ceremony among others.

Till date, 22 operational SAAs in Bengal have Palna's outside the SAA campus to receive abandoned babies.

This is for the first time Palna has been set up for safe placement of children.

On May 15, 2017, an order was issued to set up Palnas jointly by the Women and Child Development and Social Welfare and department of Health and Family Welfare in maternity homes, hospitals, Bloc Primary Health Centres and Primary Health Centres to ensure safe abandonment of children whom biological parents want to relinquish due to social and emotional factors beyond their control but are not willing to openly come forward to surrender them.

Shashi Panja said the state government is committed to protect the interest of children coming from economically-challenged background and in the future more such centres will be opened.