NASHIK: The general body of the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Friday decided to recruit 140 security guards through a private firm by floating e-tenders, to prevent stealing of newborn babies from municipal hospitals and maternity homes.

Considering the rise in cases of such thefts in Mumbai and Pune, the civic administration had tabled a proposal to appoint 140 security guards at the municipal hospitals and maternity homes for 2013-14 at an estimated cost of Rs 1.87-crore, at the general body meeting on Friday. The civic body approved the proposal and of 140 security guards, 77 will be women.

Mayor Yatin Wagh said, "Considering the safety of the newborns and prevent their stealing, it is necessary to have security in the hospitals. He directed the civic administration to appoint 140 security guards at 11 municipal hospitals and maternity homes, through a private firm and by floating an e-tender."

The security guards are to be appointed outside neonatal wards, post-delivery wards and paediatric wards. The entrance gates of all the hospitals/maternity hospitals are to be kept closed and the entrance gate is to be monitored strictly, visiting hours be fixed in all the hospitals for the relatives and friends of the patients and the names, time and other details are to be noted in the visitor's register, security guards should check all the belongings of visitors at the entrance, women security guards should also be appointed, security guards must have a walkie talkie, the photos, addresses and other information about the security guards must be maintained by the hospitals, newborn babies should not be permitted to be taken outside the ward before being discharged, only female relatives be permitted for overnight stay, permission of sister in charge of the ward be taken for X-ray, CT scan, sonography.