Faith-based organizations have raised their concerns about the increase in infanticide and abandonment of babies and children despite numerous awareness programmes and counseling.
President of the Methodist Church Reverend Tevita Bainivanua believes poverty has a part to play.
‘Most of them are poor people because they just do not know how to bring up this child so the only way for them is to run away, leave them and some even kill them unfortunately’.
Meanwhile Pundit Vijendra Mishra of the Sanatan Dharam organisation says young people are the victims of these cases due to the negligence of parents.
‘Depends on the families and the parents how they give knowledge to their children’.
According to the Ministry for Social Welfare, there are 164 children in their care and of that number 29 were abandoned.
Minister for Women Rosy Akbar has reiterated for parents to show care and compassion towards children.
