When Matter of taking responsibility comes there is no Women and Child Development (WCD) so called women and child ministry but it plunge into action when matter of a married women who file false case Against her Husband and his Family. They support and fight such cases which later proved false by men who are victims of these gender biased Laws of India.
PUTTUR/MANGALORE: Over a month after a 17-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly raped by her employer, neither the police nor the Department for Women and Child Development has bothered to produce the victim before a Child Welfare Committee (CWC). When contacted, each department said it was the responsibility of the other.
The Juvenile Justice Act, 2006, which confers judicial powers on the CWC, mandates that all children in need of care and protection be produced before the committee by the investigating authority within 24 hours of the complaint. Since both the departments are investigating the case, either could have taken the child before a CWC. Renuka (name changed) was allegedly raped on April 19 by Janardhana Gowda, a labour contractor in Ramakunja village in Puttur taluk. A complaint has been registered under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC and Section 3 (1) (12) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and Gowda has been arrested. But little else has been done beyond initiating criminal proceedings. The police offered to provide protection for the girl. But the family did not see the need for it and declined the offer, said Renuka. Since then, she has not heard from any government official.
“Protection is not the only thing that a child rape victim requires,” stressed Geo D’Silva, former member of Dakshina Kannada District CWC. Pointing out that the incident can scar the girl mentally, he said she needs specialised post-trauma care. “I shudder to think how much irreversible damage has already been done in the last one month that she has been left uncared for,” he said.
Hilda Rayappan, a psychological counsellor and former chairperson of the CWC told The media, “Once the child is produced before the CWC, arrangements must be made for the mental, psychological well-being of the traumatised child.”
However, the CWC of Dakshina Kannada district ceased to function after its term ended in February. Temporarily, the CWC of Udupi district has been given charge of cases in Dakshina Kannada district. The chairperson of Udupi CWC Amritha Kala said, “You must contact the Juvenile Justice Board.” The board, however, deals with children accused of crimes but not the victims of crime.
Deputy Director of the Department of Women and Child Development, Dakshina Kannada, Shakuntala A. said, “If a complaint has been registered with the police, they should refer the child to the CWC.” The station in charge of Kadaba police station Sub-Inspector Vinayaka, who registered the FIR, told The media, “We asked the family whether they wanted protection for the girl, but they declined. It is the duty of the Women and Child Development Department to produce her before the CWC.”
