What Led to the Suspension of an Andhra Official Over an Infant's Death?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Immediate suspension of M. Nagamani for negligence.
- Tragic death of a two-month-old infant raises oversight questions.
- Inquiry initiated by Chief Minister into the incident.
- Allegations of negligence among SAA staff.
- Calls for improved monitoring in child welfare.
Amaravati, Oct 7 (NationPress) The government of Andhra Pradesh has taken decisive action by suspending M. Nagamani, the Anantapur District Women and Child Welfare and Empowerment Officer, due to negligence linked to the tragic death of an infant at the Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA).
The Department for Women and Children issued an order on Tuesday, suspending Nagamani and mandating disciplinary measures against her.
The Government Order (GO) revealed that the two-month-old infant, Niroop, passed away on October 3, yet there was no prompt notification regarding the hospitalization and death from the District Women and Child Welfare and Empowerment Officer.
The news of the infant's death surfaced only after it was reported by local newspapers.
According to the GO, the situation reflects negligence, misconduct, and a failure in monitoring, indicating a lack of dedication from the Anantapur District Women and Child Welfare and Empowerment Officer, which contravenes Rule 3 of the C.C.A and the conduct regulations of Andhra Pradesh. Consequently, the Director of the Women Development and Child Welfare Department has recommended the immediate suspension of this officer and the initiation of disciplinary proceedings.
The GO referenced a newspaper article alleging that the infant's demise was due to negligence and internal conflicts among the staff at the SAA.
Reports specifically state that the responsible Ayah failed to adequately feed the infant, potentially contributing to the unfortunate event.
Moreover, it is alleged that to conceal the incident, the infant's body was buried, and details of the event only emerged after a day.
Nagamani's report indicated that the infant was under regular supervision by the SAA staff and was deemed medically stable, albeit underweight.
Sadly, the child died unexpectedly on October 3 as a result of loose stools.
A woman from Kalyandurg had entrusted her baby to the Women and Child Welfare department on September 30, citing financial constraints that hindered her ability to care for him.
On Sunday, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu ordered a thorough inquiry into the infant's death.
The Chief Minister communicated with the State Women and Child Welfare and Tribal Welfare Minister, G. Sandhya Rani, regarding both matters.
Additionally, Anantapur District Collector O. Anand initiated an investigation into the case, establishing a three-member committee to delve into the incident.