**”Newborn Girl Found Abandoned in Ammathottil”**

Swift Summary

• A week-old infant was left at the Kerala State Council for Child welfare’s Ammathottil electronic cradle in Thycaud, Kerala, on Saturday evening.
• As the arrival coincided wiht India’s 79th Independence Day celebrations, the infant was named Swathantra by council general secretary G.L. Arun Gopi.
• The baby girl weighed approximately 2.8 kg and underwent a health check-up at the Women and Children Hospital, Thycaud; her health condition was deemed satisfactory.
• She has been moved to the council’s adoption center after examination.
• this is the ninth child received by the council in 2025 through this service.
• The council stated that anyone wishing to claim custody of the child must contact them within two months before adoption procedures begin.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The abandonment of infants remains a sensitive social issue in India, highlighting challenges such as poverty or societal pressures driving parents to make tough decisions like relinquishing children anonymously. While Kerala’s Ammathottil initiative provides a humane option for parents unable to care for their children-a step forward in addressing this issue-it also underscores broader systemic concerns that need attention, including strengthening family support structures and raising awareness about parental alternatives like legal adoption processes.

Naming the infant “Swathantra” reflects symbolic hope amidst these challenges, especially during independence Day celebrations that emphasize freedom and progress as national ideals. Priority now lies in streamlining adoption procedures while ensuring transparency and psychological well-being for all parties involved.

Read more: Published – August 16, 2025 10:00 pm IST