The Odisha government has initiated an inquiry into reports of two children allegedly being sold due to poverty in Rayagada and Bolangir districts. One of the children, a nine-day-old baby girl, has been rescued from neighboring Andhra Pradesh, officials said on Wednesday.

According to Rayagada’s District Child Protection Officer (DCPO), Bichitra Sethi, the infant was reportedly sold to a childless couple in Andhra Pradesh. She has since been brought back to Rayagada and is currently housed at a child care center.

“The baby will remain at the center until a decision is made about her custody. While the biological parents cite poverty as the reason for giving her away, the couple from Andhra Pradesh has expressed interest in legally adopting the child,” Sethi said.

The government’s probe aims to uncover the circumstances that led to these incidents and ensure the welfare of the children involved. Authorities are also working on strengthening support mechanisms to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

These incidents have sparked widespread concern about the socio-economic challenges faced by marginalized families in the state.