Five girls have alleged that they were abused by a member of the state Child Welfare Committee.
Where does a child go if the very people entrusted with protecting her rights violate them? In a case of this very violation, a member of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) was suspended on September 7.
Acting on a complaint received by a children’s organisation, the Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) held an inquiry on September 6. The inquiry, which was conducted by the KSCPCR was done in the presence of deputy director, Narmada Anand, women and child department.
It emerged at the inquiry that one of the girls was molested by a member of the CWC in Bangalore in August. The girl had reported it to a social worker of an NGO, Association for Promoting Social Action (Apsa), the same day. However, the social worker did not bring the incident to Apsa, until September 3, because she claimed the allegations “shocked her”.
According to Nina P Nayak, chairperson, KSCPCR, the social worker was taken aback that someone could misuse his position of power and trust in such a horrific manner. She said she was surprised when four more girls came forward claiming similar abuse at the hands of the same committee member. The abuse allegedly began in February, this year. The girls claimed that the alleged molester used to stay back at the CWC office long after others had left and call the girls in for counseling.
“We received a complaint from a social worker working with Apsa on September 4, and we held an inquiry on the 6th. and passed an interim order based on prima facie evidence that the commission had received. In that order we suggested that an FIR under section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act be filed. The department of women and child welfare has suspended the member,” said Nayak.
The commission also pointed out in the interim order that the CWC becomes defunct as it has only one member, when under the Act there should be at least a three-member committee.
Although KSCPCR claimed that the member had been suspended, when DNA contacted, CN Seetharam, secretary, Women and Child Welfare Department, he was unclear about the situation. In fact, the terms of the CWC members looking into the cases of molestation, ended in February. Even after six months, no new committee has been formed.
The suspended member’s (name withheld pending completion of inquiry) term ended this February. However, he continued in the post till the incident was brought to the attention of the authorities.
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