An initiative of the Red Cross, the programme was a New Year gift to the unwanted girl children in the border belt.

One-month-old Sidak was handed over to the authorities concerned by Praveen Kaur, the child's mother who hails from Waryam Nangal village. The woman, who already has two daughters, has cited her inability to raise the third girl child because of poverty. The atmosphere became emotionally-charged when the apparently reluctant mother handed over her babyto the authorities.

"It's not that I do not love my baby, but seeing my financial restraints, I will not be able to raise her up properly. My husband is a handicapped and is presently admitted to a private hospital for treatment and I cannot rear three children," she told the authorities.

Deputy Commissioner K S Pannu, who initiated the programme taking the lead from Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) which had also announced a similar plan that had failed to take off so far, said the woman hailed from a poor background.

"The facility was launched for such poverty-stricken people," said Pannu, adding that they had taken the baby without much questioning, as it was apparent that her parents were unable to raise her.

Saying that special arrangements were being made for the upbringing of such children, the DC claimed that efforts were being made to involve a large number of NGOs to make the venture a success.