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Suvvi, Andhra Pradesh Sale of girl child for dowry

My name is Suvvi. My husband’s name is Balaram. We own our own house but have no land. Both of us work as daily wageworkers but my husband drinks a lot and harasses me. He does not buy enough food for the house. We are facing a lot of hardship and I have five children. Four daughters and one son. Revathi is in school in class three, Renuka is in second class, and Kasturi is three years old. Rajesh is two and a half years and the youngest Roopa is four months old. I lost one baby girl after my son was born and became pregnant immediately. I was hoping for a boy but another girl was born. Because of my difficult situation I sold my daughter. When the girls grow up, we will have to give a lot of dowry. From where can we get the money?

When I was in hospital a stranger asked me to give him the baby because his daughter did not have any children. He paid me one thousand rupees and asked us to sign a bond paper that I would not ask the baby back.

My daughters are studying in Devarkonda and the girls told their teacher that I had given away the baby. The master from the school came to check if this was true. I told him that I had given the baby away. Next day it was reported in the newspaper. The police came and talked to us and threatened to file a case against us. They brought the baby back but there is no one to look after her. I have no breast milk and I have to stay at home to look after the baby. Without my income it is difficult.