M A I N   N E W S

Poverty forces man to sell son
Our Correspondent

Abohar, March 18
Beset by poverty, Teja Ram, a rickshaw-puller sold his four-year-old son Govinda to a milkman here, sources said.

Teja Ram had migrated from Bagwala village of Etah District in Uttar Pradesh to work in a spinning mill here a decade also. He married Saroj, a resident of a nearby village. The spinning mill which employed 4000 workers besides 230 employees of other categories closed down five years back.

The employees of the mill were yet to be paid Provident Fund dues and allowances.

Jobless Teja Ram chose to earn a living by pulling a hired rickshaw, as he did not have money to buy one. He took drinking like most of his co-professionals. The family had three children — Pinky (5), Gobinda (4) and Vikram (2). As Saroj was not able to feed the children despite working in some houses in her locality in Bhagwanpura, she allegedly eloped with a married man a few weeks ago. Teja Ram informed the police and leaders of his community but could not trace his wife.   

Teja Ram due to his poor health had to give up rickshaw for not pulling and for not paying rent to the owner. As he was unable to pay bill of the milkman he under pressure from the latter reportedly handed over Gobinda to the milkman in payment of Rs 4000 loan and other debts on Saturday. When Teja Ram went to the milkman’s residence to meet his son after a week he was allegedly pushed out and not allowed to meet him.

The Migrants Cell of the City Congress Committee today resolved to take up the matter as scores of migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were facing similar conditions. Some women of the Bhagwanpura locality held a meeting last night and decided to provide meals to rest of the children in Teja’s  family, it is learnt.