Row over denial of birth certificate to child born at home in Kozhikode

THE trend of home births is on the rise in certain communities, driven by scepticism towards modern medicine and a growing resistance to vaccinations.

- POOJA NAIR @Kozhikode

THE trend of home births is on the rise in certain communities, driven by scepticism towards modern medicine and a growing resistance to vaccinations. While childbirth at home was once a necessity in rural and underserved areas, it is now becoming a deliberate choice among those who reject conventional medical practices. This shift has raised significant concerns among health officials, as unassisted births pose risks to both mother and child.

One such case has now sparked a legal battle, as a Kozhikode couple claims they were denied a birth certificate for their child simply because the birth took place at home. The child's father Sharafat, a resident of Koottooli, has filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission stating that his child born on November 2, 2024, at his home in Kozhikode was denied a birth certificate, despite multiple visits to the corporation office, even after four months.