Baby Box Proposal Stirs Debate

　　An initiative launched in Guangdong Provinceattracts public attention as it aims to setup S henzhen’s first “baby box” for abandonedbabies in 2014.

　　Under the initiative， the shelter would bea steel structure installed with an incubator， atime-delay alarm button and an LED sign. Costingabout 150，000 yuan ($24，600)， the facilitywould be next to the security booth of the localwelfare house. No surveillance cameras wouldbe installed at the site so that parents couldleave their babies anonymously. W hen workersat the welfare home hear the alarm， they wouldmove the babies from the baby box to insidethe home as soon as possible.

　　Tang Rongsheng， Director of the ShenzhenWelfare Center， said the shelter embodies theidea of prioritizing the interests of the child.“Although the shelter won’t stop parents fromabandoning their babies， the outcome will bedifferent if the abandoned ones could receiveproper protection，” he said.

　　Shenzhen is not a pioneer in setting up suchfacilities. Shijiazhuang， capital city of northChina’s Hebei Province， launched one in 2011and has received 170 infants since establishment.

　　As the plan was released， some applauded，saying that the move is aimed at respecting lifeand prioritizing children’s rights and interests.They call for similar facilities to be set up acrossthe nation. Others raised concerns that it willencourage irresponsible parents to abandontheir unwanted babies.

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