13.11.11
Times of India
The unsafe sex
A shocking bit of statistic hit us last week. There has been an 800% increase in rape cases in the last 40 years. Each passing decade should have been safer for women in a country that aspires to be a world leader. But India is today a more dangerous place for the fairer sex than it was ever before.
For Kiran (not her real name), it was almost a daily habit to stroll outside her home in south Delhi and chat with friends on her cellphone. She probably thought she had nothing to fear though the area where she lived had many single men, mostly students like her. Late last year, the girl from the northeast was raped and killed when she refused a neighbour's advances.
The accused later reportedly told a psychiatrist , "She used to talk on her phone about private matters in front of me. I felt if she's doing that, then she's become mine (Woh meri apni ho gayi)."
His response reflects one truth about modern India - the more it tries to change, the more it remains the same for its women. That seems to be the dark message from statistics released recently by the National Crime Records Bureau, which show that rape is India's fastest growing misdemeanour and has increased by 792% since 1971.
There are no class barriers here, though figures say rapes are more rampant in rural areas. The patriarchal mindset has always been the prime accused and nothing has changed in that respect, whether the criminals are well-shod , PhD students or poor rickshawallas. Today, though, "there are complex multiple forces at play which are causing increasing violence against women" , as Abha Bhaiya, founding member of Jagori, an NGO for women's empowerment in Delhi, says. "True, there's more awareness now and more reporting of sexual violence. More mothers are reporting about child abuse. But the fact is that the number of child rapes has increased. There are regressive forces at play. Women have become more assertive and men are not able to accept that and use heinous ways to punish them. Most of the rapes are done by people known to the victims , which says something about our society."
Activists say the laws have made little difference. "The generation of my parents said women have to suffer in silence. Today women feel they cannot take it anymore, but they are angry that the larger society does not take a stance," says Bhaiya.
With more women entering the workforce, emerging as professional competitors and exhibiting financial and emotional independence, the ill-feeling towards them has increased, say experts . "Modernity is impinging on closed systems ," says Dr Rajat Mitra, director of Swanchetan , an NGO that provides emotional support to survivors of violence and abuse. He feels the growing migrant workforce in the country is part of the problem. "These people carry forward their values and mindset, leading to a clash of cultures. Besides,women from small towns don't take the necessary precautions in big cities, adding to their vulnerability. Men have increased access to porn and other forms of stimulation, and have the feeling that they can get away with it, given the image the police have as those who can be paid off."
Mitra believes that lax law enforcement - and the low importance given to both rape as a crime and to counselling of victims - is contributing to the rise in sexual violence. "Counselling helps in reporting the case, pursuing it in court and getting the accused convicted." But, he says, there has been a decline in psychological services, which have been palmed off to local NGOs that don't have the expertise to deal with complex cases. The abysmal rate of rape convictions in India, about 27% in 2010, adds to the poor image of law enforcers and encourages those inclined towards sexual violence. A former member of the National Commission for Women recalls a case last year in which a rapist was allowed to go free on the basis of a compromise. "It reveals a lack of consistency in court judgments, subjectivity in the interpretation of the law and also adds to the pressure on the victim," she says. There have been shocking instances where victims have been asked to marry their violators. "If that's going to be the trend in courts, it's going to be bad," says the former NCW member. "Rape victims abroad never worry about who would marry them. But here, for victims from semi-urban families, the worry is 'Who will marry me' , and that her family would be ostracized," says Mitra.
The rape laws
In India, rape is defined as intentional, unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman, without her permission. In Brazil, it’s unconsensual vaginal sex and in China, it’s forcible coitus with women or by other means against their will. But in Sweden, where Julian Assange is facing trial for rape, it even applies to situations when someone wouldn’t be capable of saying “no”. The definition was broadened in 2005 to include having sex with someone who is asleep, or someone who could be considered to be in a “helpless state”
Some lessons from Rwanda
Would you rather be born a woman in India or in Pakistan ?
The answer may not behalf as obvious as you would imagine. While countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as African nations such as Rwanda and Zimbabwe have never been role models for India, they fare better than us on the latest Gender Inequality Index released by the United Nations Development Programme. This, despite the fact that all four countries fare worse than India on the Human Development Index.
So does India's development elude its women? And how come parts of Africa, which conjure images of starvation and voodoo among the Indian middle class, look after their women better?
Experts in the field of women's studies point to the structured inequality in Indian society. "Many poorer nations are not as unequal as we are,'' says Vibhuti Patel, professor at Mumbai's SNDT Women's University and a prominent women's activist. Many countries, which may be economically more depressed than India, may also be less aggressive towards their women. Within India itself, more developed regions such as Punjab are also more violent towards women. Activists believe practices such as child marriage and female foeticide that greatly reduce a woman's decision-making powers are far more prevalent in India than much of Africa. Data on women and girls, released by the Washington-based Population Reference Bureau earlier this year, shows that 47% of Indian women between the ages of 20 and 24 were married by the time they reached 18, a figure far higher than the average for sub-Saharan Africa. Patel says that women enjoy a better status in several African countries than they do in India as they have more control over the family income. "In Africa, starvation levels are the same for men and women, while in India there tends to be a hierarchy of food distribution within families, with men and boys being fed more nutritious food, and women being fed both last and the least.''
When it comes to literacy rates, India fares worse than countries such as Iran and Libya. "When poor families face a crunch in their household income, it's usually the girls that get pulled out of school,'' says Prof Malashri Lal, former director of the Women Studies and Development Centre at Delhi University. This is in sync with the latest Annual Status of Education Report by NGO Pratham, which shows that more girls are enrolled in India's government schools than boys even as there are more boys in private schools.
If there's one area where the Indian woman is becoming more visible, it's in the workforce. But these numbers have a flip side too. Prof Shyam Menon, vice-chancellor of Ambedkar University, points out that middle-class women's participation in labour outside the house is now possible because poorer women do the housework for them. "Can we actually call this women's empowerment, or is it a case of one class of women replacing the other when it comes to domestic labour?'' he asks.
Menon feels that many women take up professions such as teaching , nursing and hospitality as it gives them time to carry out their domestic chores as well. "Domestic work is seen as their primary responsibility. This is a double-edged sword as it undermines both women as well as professions such as teaching,'' he adds.
Sonya Gill of the All India Democratic Women's Association blames the current growth model for gender inequality. "The government is cutting down on public funding of welfare measures in fields such as health, education and food distribution. This particularly affects marginalized sections such as women.'' She also points to the government's refusal to implement affirmative action policies such as the reservation bill for women in Parliament. Women's representation in Parliament is lower in India than it is in Pakistan , Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
But, N Hamsa, executive director of Woman Power Connect , says India does not lack in policy or legislation for women, but in implementation. For instance, despite having an inheritance law, women are influenced not to exert their rights. "It is like having a policy of free education in the absence of schools," she says. Or take the "strict" laws against domestic violence. At the ground, little seems to have changed. In a startling revelation, the National Family Health Survey III found that over 40% of the 1.25 lakh women surveyed in 28 states and the capital said they had experienced domestic violence. More shockingly, 54% of women - and 51% of men - felt it was justified. Increasing modernity in India's metros may seem at odds with the low status of women in society. But Nandita Shah, codirector of Akshara, an organization working for the uplift of women, feels that modernity reinforces traditional beliefs. "Modernity exists in terms of fashion, clothes and brands, but not in our worldview, or the way we see relationships.'' And here India could learn a thing or two from poorer nations.
I don’t think I will get justice…’
Simi, 17, and Reena, 24 (names changed), are victims of rape. Both live in Delhi and are going through counselling. Sunday Times spoke to them and found that they have little faith in the system
Who supported you when you needed it? Your family?
Simi: No. They blame me for bringing dishonour to them.
Reena: I did not want to tell my family but they got to know and it was terrible. They became anxious and agitated. They also blamed me for it, saying I was too liberated. I got support from the counsellor and a close friend.
Do you think you will get justice?
Simi: I don't think so. He (the accused) is powerful and the system is corrupt.
Reena: Have I got justice? No. I do not have faith in the system.
How did the police treat you?
Simi: They were suspicious and insensitive. My story leaked out because of them.
Reena: They were insensitive. They didn't know how to ask me questions, nor did the doctors doing the MLC report. People stared at me. Everyone knew I had been raped; it was horrible.
What do you look forward to in life?
Simi: I don't know what I want in life right now.
Reena: I live one day at a time; I have no future. At times, I feel suicidal and call up my counsellor or a helpline.
What do you think of men who don't respect women?
Simi: It's disgusting the way they treat women.They only see us as a body, not as someone with feelings.
Reena: I do not have any feelings for men. Earlier, I felt attracted (towards them), now I don't .
Do you think you are stronger as a person now?
Simi: I feel more vulnerable now.
Reena: I don't feel strong inside. I feel hollow.
When the crime is rape, all the men gang up
Whichever way you look at it, the news is not good. A 792% increase in reported cases of rape in 40 years. Add to this the thousands of cases that don't get reported, and the numbers will be staggering . If nothing else, this should make Indians, all of us, right from the President to the person at the bottom of the social ladder, hang our heads in shame.
One might argue that there's always another side to statistical data - and if you wanted to put a positive spin on this (hard to do but nevertheless), you might say that at least women are coming out to report, that they feel empowered to talk about a crime that has so far remained hidden.
But the holes in such an argument are immediately apparent. For one thing, if this is what women are talking about, the real scale of the problem must be much, much bigger. And then, even if they are coming out to talk, you only need to look at other statistics - conviction rates have dropped by nearly a third (from 41% to 27%in the same period) as have what the police euphemistically call 'disposal' rates. And none of this takes account of those unnamable things - social stigma, mental trauma, deep insecurities, to name only a few.
It's nearly four decades now that the women's movement in India began to focus on the issue of rape. The Mathura, Rameeza Bee, and Maya Tyagi rape cases (even though the use of names is now banned, this is how these landmark cases came to be known) and the gangrape of women in Santhal Parganas - these were some of the catalysts for the activism of the late seventies and early eighties.
Led by four eminent lawyers we - for I was among those who were part of this nationwide campaign - fought against the acquittal of two policemen who had raped the minor girl, Mathura. We demanded changes in the rape law. We performed at street corners to create an awareness of women's rights.
And when, in 1983, the State finally changed the law on rape - after nearly a century-and-a-half - we thought we had 'succeeded' because, even if the new legislation did not have everything we wanted, it had some important changes.
November 18, 2011
November 9, 2011
6.11.11
Times of India
India's invisible children: Swallowed by the streets
The show begins at night. After the sun is swallowed by the smog and neon lights wash the city in yellow, Rahul and his gang emerge from under the flyover. They all look similar - grubby feet, frayed rags, scarred faces, red eyes and brassy hair. They are all under 11. Walking with the swagger of his favourite filmstar, the puny urchin produces a cigarette from his pocket, lights it and blows the smoke into the faces of six other kids who beg for a drag. But Rahul is high: one moment he is Dabangg; another, he is Romeo the kutta. Then he offers the fag to his buddies, but at a price. He punches one, yanks out Rs 5 from another's pocket, and then grabs Guddi, the only girl in the pack. She screams and giggles as he pulls her towards a dark corner. Then a boy shouts police' and the group vanishes into the dark garbage dump they call home.
These are India's invisible children who have fallen through the cracks. During the day, they sleep amid stinking waste and at night they collect plastic bottles, sell flowers, clean cars, beg or steal - all around a flyover in south Delhi. They all had a home once. They all have a story to tell, but they clamp up when asked about it. Rahul wants a dibba of "good boot polish" before talking. He eats it. "Otherwise, I can't sleep," says the 10-year-old who ran away from his home in Gwalior to escape an alcoholic father and a cruel stepmother. Others have similar tales: Guddi left home when her mother tried to push her into prostitution; Guddu's father beat him mercilessly; Raju was too scared of a teacher at school, and Pappu just got tired of hunger. They took a train to Delhi, got snuffed by gangs roaming the platforms and since then, it has been a story of rape, torture, drugs and starvation.
Last week, the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) came out with shocking figures of crimes against children: 5,484 children were raped and 1,408 others killed in India last year. In the Capital alone, 29 children were murdered and 304 raped in 2010. But these figures do not include even a fraction of crimes committed against street children. "Not even 10% cases of rape, sodomy or murder of street children are recorded. Who is going to file an FIR for these children who have been abandoned by society and trapped by gangs?" asks Prabhakar Goswami, director of i-India, a Jaipur-based NGO which runs a helpline for street children. "We go to the police when we come across such cases, but it's difficult to file an FIR as they don't take these cases seriously."
The NCRB figures are based on FIR and daily diary reports and, therefore, hide more than they reveal as the worst victims of child abuse are not counted at all. "Street children are abused - physically, mentally and sexually - on a daily basis. They get trapped in a cycle of abuse that leads to drugs and crimes, but no one is bothered," says Sanjay Gupta, director of Chetna, an NGO working for street children in Delhi. "In Delhi, there are at least five lakh street children, but in government records, less than 50,000 exist."
Numbers are the real problem. Though estimates range from one crore to four crore, nobody is sure how many children live on India's streets. "We demanded a count of these children during the current Census but the government refused. If their exact number is known, it's easier to protect them," says Gupta.
Another problem is the police. They are supposed to keep track of crimes against these kids, but end up always finding these children on the wrong side of law. The kids are routinely arrested, locked up and tortured. "The police are not sensitive enough to stop crimes against them. Though they may see a street kid being abused or forced to work, they do nothing to stop it," says Ramesh Kumar, a volunteer who has been working with street children in Mumbai. "For the cops, these kids do not exist."
The term "street child" did not figure in the official vocabulary of India until 1993, when under pressure from NGOs the government launched a Scheme for Assistance to Street Children" in six major cities. Now, it's been extended to all cities with more than one million, but it hasn't helped. "Making laws is not enough. T h e re i s a l aw against child labour but you see them everywhere. Under the Right to Education, every street child should be in school, but millions are getting wasted on footpaths. The only way to take them off streets is to put them in shelters and schools," says Goswami of i-India.
Considering their huge numbers, there are very few shelters for street children. Most are run by NGOs. The children have to fend for themselves and fight the demons surrounding them. Rahul has no desire to go to school; he just wants his daily dose of boot polish. Raju is happy sniffing glue. Pappu is learning the tricks of survival from Kalia the pocketmaar. Guddi hangs around with this bunch as they protect her from bigger pests. For all of them, the future just means the next meal.
The Most Vulnerable More than 40 million children in India are denied education and are vulnerable to abuse
CHILD LABOUR: They work in factories, workshops, mines and in the service sector. They are exploited financially and physically abused
STREET CHILDREN: Children living on and off the streets, such as shoeshine boys, ragpickers and beggars. They live on pavements, at bus stations and railway platforms. They are at the mercy of urban predators and the police
BONDED CHILDREN: They have to work in private houses or fields, either in exchange for a small salary or to repay family debts. Many are abused and tortured
SEX SLAVES: Thousands of young girls and boys serve the sexual appetites of men from various social and economic backgrounds. Factories, workshops, street corners, railway stations, bus stops and homes where children work are common places where this happens
Times of India
India's invisible children: Swallowed by the streets
The show begins at night. After the sun is swallowed by the smog and neon lights wash the city in yellow, Rahul and his gang emerge from under the flyover. They all look similar - grubby feet, frayed rags, scarred faces, red eyes and brassy hair. They are all under 11. Walking with the swagger of his favourite filmstar, the puny urchin produces a cigarette from his pocket, lights it and blows the smoke into the faces of six other kids who beg for a drag. But Rahul is high: one moment he is Dabangg; another, he is Romeo the kutta. Then he offers the fag to his buddies, but at a price. He punches one, yanks out Rs 5 from another's pocket, and then grabs Guddi, the only girl in the pack. She screams and giggles as he pulls her towards a dark corner. Then a boy shouts police' and the group vanishes into the dark garbage dump they call home.
These are India's invisible children who have fallen through the cracks. During the day, they sleep amid stinking waste and at night they collect plastic bottles, sell flowers, clean cars, beg or steal - all around a flyover in south Delhi. They all had a home once. They all have a story to tell, but they clamp up when asked about it. Rahul wants a dibba of "good boot polish" before talking. He eats it. "Otherwise, I can't sleep," says the 10-year-old who ran away from his home in Gwalior to escape an alcoholic father and a cruel stepmother. Others have similar tales: Guddi left home when her mother tried to push her into prostitution; Guddu's father beat him mercilessly; Raju was too scared of a teacher at school, and Pappu just got tired of hunger. They took a train to Delhi, got snuffed by gangs roaming the platforms and since then, it has been a story of rape, torture, drugs and starvation.
Last week, the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) came out with shocking figures of crimes against children: 5,484 children were raped and 1,408 others killed in India last year. In the Capital alone, 29 children were murdered and 304 raped in 2010. But these figures do not include even a fraction of crimes committed against street children. "Not even 10% cases of rape, sodomy or murder of street children are recorded. Who is going to file an FIR for these children who have been abandoned by society and trapped by gangs?" asks Prabhakar Goswami, director of i-India, a Jaipur-based NGO which runs a helpline for street children. "We go to the police when we come across such cases, but it's difficult to file an FIR as they don't take these cases seriously."
The NCRB figures are based on FIR and daily diary reports and, therefore, hide more than they reveal as the worst victims of child abuse are not counted at all. "Street children are abused - physically, mentally and sexually - on a daily basis. They get trapped in a cycle of abuse that leads to drugs and crimes, but no one is bothered," says Sanjay Gupta, director of Chetna, an NGO working for street children in Delhi. "In Delhi, there are at least five lakh street children, but in government records, less than 50,000 exist."
Numbers are the real problem. Though estimates range from one crore to four crore, nobody is sure how many children live on India's streets. "We demanded a count of these children during the current Census but the government refused. If their exact number is known, it's easier to protect them," says Gupta.
Another problem is the police. They are supposed to keep track of crimes against these kids, but end up always finding these children on the wrong side of law. The kids are routinely arrested, locked up and tortured. "The police are not sensitive enough to stop crimes against them. Though they may see a street kid being abused or forced to work, they do nothing to stop it," says Ramesh Kumar, a volunteer who has been working with street children in Mumbai. "For the cops, these kids do not exist."
The term "street child" did not figure in the official vocabulary of India until 1993, when under pressure from NGOs the government launched a Scheme for Assistance to Street Children" in six major cities. Now, it's been extended to all cities with more than one million, but it hasn't helped. "Making laws is not enough. T h e re i s a l aw against child labour but you see them everywhere. Under the Right to Education, every street child should be in school, but millions are getting wasted on footpaths. The only way to take them off streets is to put them in shelters and schools," says Goswami of i-India.
Considering their huge numbers, there are very few shelters for street children. Most are run by NGOs. The children have to fend for themselves and fight the demons surrounding them. Rahul has no desire to go to school; he just wants his daily dose of boot polish. Raju is happy sniffing glue. Pappu is learning the tricks of survival from Kalia the pocketmaar. Guddi hangs around with this bunch as they protect her from bigger pests. For all of them, the future just means the next meal.
The Most Vulnerable More than 40 million children in India are denied education and are vulnerable to abuse
CHILD LABOUR: They work in factories, workshops, mines and in the service sector. They are exploited financially and physically abused
STREET CHILDREN: Children living on and off the streets, such as shoeshine boys, ragpickers and beggars. They live on pavements, at bus stations and railway platforms. They are at the mercy of urban predators and the police
BONDED CHILDREN: They have to work in private houses or fields, either in exchange for a small salary or to repay family debts. Many are abused and tortured
SEX SLAVES: Thousands of young girls and boys serve the sexual appetites of men from various social and economic backgrounds. Factories, workshops, street corners, railway stations, bus stops and homes where children work are common places where this happens
3.11.11
Midday, Pune
13-year-old's rape at orphanage surfaces 5 months later
After rape by 13-year-old boy takes 5 months to comes to light, only 2 people suspended; no action taken yet against orphanage director
It seems young girls rejected by their families may not be safe even in orphanages, which are supposed to provide a secure and nurturing environment to such helpless children. Giving credence to this observation is the surfacing of the case of a rape of a 13-year-old girl by a boy of the same age at a high-profile orphanage in Kamshet.
The case went unnoticed by those who run Vidyavati Ashram, the orphanage where the rape occurred, and also by the Women and Child Development officers till the girl became five months pregnant. So far, the Women and Child Development (WCD) Depar-tment has suspended only the superintendent and a woman caretaker. No action has been taken against the orphanage director, a former businessman called Dr Rajendra Gupta. The DWCD Officer has instructed all 19 boys be transferred to other orphanages.
Also, in what looked like a deliberate attempt to protect the orphanage director, the WCD officers and the police initially tried to keep the matter under wraps by remaining tight-lipped about it. It was only when some sources talked about the rape case that the matter was revealed to MiD DAY. District Women and Child Development Officer Suvarna Pawar, who reportedly visited the orphanage twice, failed to notice the case.
Confronted with the facts of the case, Pawar was more interested in knowing who had provided the information on the case. Finally, Pawar said, "The matter came to light on October 22. We have suspended superintendent Basavraj S Chinnamwar and a lady caretaker. We have also issued orders to transfer the boys elsewhere, which are in process." On how this major case could have gone unnoticed, she said, "The children were at school when I visited the place." Reminded that visiting officers are expected to check a register of menstruation cycles and asked whether the register was not checked during her visits, she said, "Nothing abnormal was pointed out; the register was duly signed by superintendent and lady caretaker. We have taken action against them."
Women and Child Welfare Deputy Commissioner Ravi Patil said, "I was on leave, I joined only yesterday. I have to collect information before I can comment on this matter." Police Inspector Rajendra Patil of Wadgaon Maval also seemed reluctant to share any information on the matter, saying the police had been asked not to divulge information on it. Shankar Jadhav, DYSP of Lonavala region, said that the matter came to light on October 18 and the offence was registered against a 13-year-old boy under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code on October 22.
Jadhav said, "I personally visited the place and conducted the inquiry and I suspect the matter went unnoticed as Superintendent Basavraj S Chinnamwar did not pay regular visits. We have also registered a case against the superintendent for negligence, considering that children were in his legal custody." Jadhav said the boy was produced before the CWC. "The boy was remanded to an observation home," Jadhav said. He said the offence was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Child Welfare Committee member Amitkumar Banerjee. Child Welfare Committee member Anita Vipat said, "The medical test was performed on the boy on Wednesday. The course of the investigation will be decided once the sperm fertilisation report is available."
The other side
Repeated attempts to contact Vidyavati Ashram Director Dr Rajendra Gupta did not meet with success. He also did not respond to text messages sent on his cell phone.
Child rights experts speak
>> SURYAKANT Kulkarni, a member of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said: "The matter was not brought before the commission earlier, but after knowing this we will definitely take cognisance of it as it is a serious case."
>> Anjali Pawar of Sakhee said: "On numerous occasions I have demanded stringent action against managing trustees of institutions that start these organisations claiming they are doing good for society, but every time they manage to escape from the ambit of the law. If one is running an institution, he or she cannot wash their hands of saying that they had delegated the responsibility to someone else."
>> Sangeeta Punekar, a child rights activist from Mumbai, said: "Children rejected by families are sent to orphanages but there too they are not safe. Consider this case, where the girl could not share this with anyone and it went unnoticed by people who were responsible to take care of these girls. There is no protocol set on who is considered to be liable for negligence and as a result people who are responsible manage to escape."
Can a 13-yr-old boy do it?
DR Yamini Adbe, a member of the International Health Task Force for South Asia, cautioned that it was unlikely that a 13-year-old boy was capable of impregnating a girl his age. "This needs thorough investigation as the girl may have been abused by an elder person along with the boy. A paternity or DNA test is necessary," Adbe said.
Midday, Pune
13-year-old's rape at orphanage surfaces 5 months later
After rape by 13-year-old boy takes 5 months to comes to light, only 2 people suspended; no action taken yet against orphanage director
It seems young girls rejected by their families may not be safe even in orphanages, which are supposed to provide a secure and nurturing environment to such helpless children. Giving credence to this observation is the surfacing of the case of a rape of a 13-year-old girl by a boy of the same age at a high-profile orphanage in Kamshet.
The case went unnoticed by those who run Vidyavati Ashram, the orphanage where the rape occurred, and also by the Women and Child Development officers till the girl became five months pregnant. So far, the Women and Child Development (WCD) Depar-tment has suspended only the superintendent and a woman caretaker. No action has been taken against the orphanage director, a former businessman called Dr Rajendra Gupta. The DWCD Officer has instructed all 19 boys be transferred to other orphanages.
Also, in what looked like a deliberate attempt to protect the orphanage director, the WCD officers and the police initially tried to keep the matter under wraps by remaining tight-lipped about it. It was only when some sources talked about the rape case that the matter was revealed to MiD DAY. District Women and Child Development Officer Suvarna Pawar, who reportedly visited the orphanage twice, failed to notice the case.
Confronted with the facts of the case, Pawar was more interested in knowing who had provided the information on the case. Finally, Pawar said, "The matter came to light on October 22. We have suspended superintendent Basavraj S Chinnamwar and a lady caretaker. We have also issued orders to transfer the boys elsewhere, which are in process." On how this major case could have gone unnoticed, she said, "The children were at school when I visited the place." Reminded that visiting officers are expected to check a register of menstruation cycles and asked whether the register was not checked during her visits, she said, "Nothing abnormal was pointed out; the register was duly signed by superintendent and lady caretaker. We have taken action against them."
Women and Child Welfare Deputy Commissioner Ravi Patil said, "I was on leave, I joined only yesterday. I have to collect information before I can comment on this matter." Police Inspector Rajendra Patil of Wadgaon Maval also seemed reluctant to share any information on the matter, saying the police had been asked not to divulge information on it. Shankar Jadhav, DYSP of Lonavala region, said that the matter came to light on October 18 and the offence was registered against a 13-year-old boy under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code on October 22.
Jadhav said, "I personally visited the place and conducted the inquiry and I suspect the matter went unnoticed as Superintendent Basavraj S Chinnamwar did not pay regular visits. We have also registered a case against the superintendent for negligence, considering that children were in his legal custody." Jadhav said the boy was produced before the CWC. "The boy was remanded to an observation home," Jadhav said. He said the offence was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Child Welfare Committee member Amitkumar Banerjee. Child Welfare Committee member Anita Vipat said, "The medical test was performed on the boy on Wednesday. The course of the investigation will be decided once the sperm fertilisation report is available."
The other side
Repeated attempts to contact Vidyavati Ashram Director Dr Rajendra Gupta did not meet with success. He also did not respond to text messages sent on his cell phone.
Child rights experts speak
>> SURYAKANT Kulkarni, a member of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said: "The matter was not brought before the commission earlier, but after knowing this we will definitely take cognisance of it as it is a serious case."
>> Anjali Pawar of Sakhee said: "On numerous occasions I have demanded stringent action against managing trustees of institutions that start these organisations claiming they are doing good for society, but every time they manage to escape from the ambit of the law. If one is running an institution, he or she cannot wash their hands of saying that they had delegated the responsibility to someone else."
>> Sangeeta Punekar, a child rights activist from Mumbai, said: "Children rejected by families are sent to orphanages but there too they are not safe. Consider this case, where the girl could not share this with anyone and it went unnoticed by people who were responsible to take care of these girls. There is no protocol set on who is considered to be liable for negligence and as a result people who are responsible manage to escape."
Can a 13-yr-old boy do it?
DR Yamini Adbe, a member of the International Health Task Force for South Asia, cautioned that it was unlikely that a 13-year-old boy was capable of impregnating a girl his age. "This needs thorough investigation as the girl may have been abused by an elder person along with the boy. A paternity or DNA test is necessary," Adbe said.
October 31, 2011
31.10.11
Times of India
5K kids sexually abused in ’10
1,408 Children Killed In Country Last Yr: Govt Report
New Delhi: As many as 5,484 children were sexually assaulted and 1,408 others killed in different parts of the country last year, according to a government report.
Giving a gloomy picture of treatment of children in the country, the latest National Crime Records Bureau data also says that 10,670 children were kidnapped or abducted during the year in various states and Union Territories.
Uttar Pradesh topped the list of child murders with 315 cases. In Madhya Pradesh the highest number of children faced sexual assault with the number of cases standing at 1,182 for the same period.
Maharastra had 211 cases of child murders with another 200 such cases in Bihar and 124 victims in Madhya Pradesh, the NCRB data reveals. In the last year, Maharashtra had 747 cases of child sexual assault, Uttar Pradesh had 451 and Andhra Pradesh recorded 446 such cases. Similarly, Chattisgarh recorded 382 such cases with Rajasthan close at its heels with 369 such incidents reported.
In Delhi, 29 children were murdered and 304 others were raped in 2010.
The national capital has reported the highest number of kidnapping of children in the country— 2,982, followed by Bihar (1,359), Uttar Pradesh (1,225), Maharashtra (749), Rajasthan (706), Andhra Pradesh (581) and Gujarat (565). AGENCIES
Sexual exploitation of minor girls up by 186%
New Delhi: An increasing number of children, particularly minor girls, are being trafficked for sexual exploitation, according to the National Crime Records Bureau data.
Cases of sexual exploitation of minor girls jumped from 237 in 2009 to 679 in 2010, a 186.5% increase. West Bengal reported 200 cases, followed by Bihar (152).
While crime against children went up by 10%, the corresponding figure for women stood at 4.8%. A total of 26,694 cases of crime against kids were reported in 2010, up from 24,201 cases in 2009. While MP (4,912) accounted for 18.4% of the cases, Delhi recorded 3,630 incidents (13.6%). Only 100 cases of infanticide and 111 cases of foeticide were reported last year, indicating social suppression of the problem.
The NCRB data found that Delhi accounted for 16% of the crime reported against women, followed by Hyderabad among 35 cities with over 10 lakh population.
Of the 2.13 lakh crimes against women in 2010, Andhra topped with 27,244 cases, or 12.8%, while Tripura had the highest rate of crime against women at 46.5%. Women were troubled most by domestic violence: as many as 94,041 cases were reported, an increase of 5%.
DNA
5K kids faced sex assaults last year
The latest NCRB ( National Crimes Records Bureau) data about crimes committed against children paints a gloomy picture. As many as 5484 children were sexually assaulted, 1408 were killed in various parts of the country last year.
Sexual assaults OF CHILDREN
Maharashtra : 747
UP : 451
AP : 446
CHHATTISHGARH : 382
RAJASTHAN : 369
DELHI : 304 raped & 29 MURDERED
M.P : 1182 raped and 124 KILLED
Times of India
5K kids sexually abused in ’10
1,408 Children Killed In Country Last Yr: Govt Report
New Delhi: As many as 5,484 children were sexually assaulted and 1,408 others killed in different parts of the country last year, according to a government report.
Giving a gloomy picture of treatment of children in the country, the latest National Crime Records Bureau data also says that 10,670 children were kidnapped or abducted during the year in various states and Union Territories.
Uttar Pradesh topped the list of child murders with 315 cases. In Madhya Pradesh the highest number of children faced sexual assault with the number of cases standing at 1,182 for the same period.
Maharastra had 211 cases of child murders with another 200 such cases in Bihar and 124 victims in Madhya Pradesh, the NCRB data reveals. In the last year, Maharashtra had 747 cases of child sexual assault, Uttar Pradesh had 451 and Andhra Pradesh recorded 446 such cases. Similarly, Chattisgarh recorded 382 such cases with Rajasthan close at its heels with 369 such incidents reported.
In Delhi, 29 children were murdered and 304 others were raped in 2010.
The national capital has reported the highest number of kidnapping of children in the country— 2,982, followed by Bihar (1,359), Uttar Pradesh (1,225), Maharashtra (749), Rajasthan (706), Andhra Pradesh (581) and Gujarat (565). AGENCIES
Sexual exploitation of minor girls up by 186%
New Delhi: An increasing number of children, particularly minor girls, are being trafficked for sexual exploitation, according to the National Crime Records Bureau data.
Cases of sexual exploitation of minor girls jumped from 237 in 2009 to 679 in 2010, a 186.5% increase. West Bengal reported 200 cases, followed by Bihar (152).
While crime against children went up by 10%, the corresponding figure for women stood at 4.8%. A total of 26,694 cases of crime against kids were reported in 2010, up from 24,201 cases in 2009. While MP (4,912) accounted for 18.4% of the cases, Delhi recorded 3,630 incidents (13.6%). Only 100 cases of infanticide and 111 cases of foeticide were reported last year, indicating social suppression of the problem.
The NCRB data found that Delhi accounted for 16% of the crime reported against women, followed by Hyderabad among 35 cities with over 10 lakh population.
Of the 2.13 lakh crimes against women in 2010, Andhra topped with 27,244 cases, or 12.8%, while Tripura had the highest rate of crime against women at 46.5%. Women were troubled most by domestic violence: as many as 94,041 cases were reported, an increase of 5%.
DNA
5K kids faced sex assaults last year
The latest NCRB ( National Crimes Records Bureau) data about crimes committed against children paints a gloomy picture. As many as 5484 children were sexually assaulted, 1408 were killed in various parts of the country last year.
Sexual assaults OF CHILDREN
Maharashtra : 747
UP : 451
AP : 446
CHHATTISHGARH : 382
RAJASTHAN : 369
DELHI : 304 raped & 29 MURDERED
M.P : 1182 raped and 124 KILLED
October 30, 2011
11.10.11
DNA
Supreme court rules, no corroboration required in rape cases
The Supreme Court has ruled that in rape cases there was no need for corroboration and conviction can be imposed on the sole statement of the victim as her testimony cannot be looked at with suspicion.
"It is a trite law that a woman, who is the victim of sexual assault, is not an accomplice to the crime but is a victim of another person's lust. The prosecutrix stands at a higher pedestal than an injured witness as she suffers from emotional injury. Therefore, her evidence need not be tested with the same amount of suspicion as that of an accomplice. The Indian Evidence Act nowhere says that her evidence cannot be accepted unless it is corroborated in material particulars," the apex court said.
A bench of justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan passed the ruling while dismissing an appeal filed by Mohd Imran Khan and Jamal Ahmed challenging their conviction for rape of a minor girl about 22 years ago. The defence had argued the victim's statement cannot be relied upon as she had eloped with the accused.
13.10.11
Hindustan Times
Rape victim's sexual history not relevant
n a significant move, the state government has directed government doctors who conduct medical examinations of rape victims to do away with the practice of noting whether the victim is habituated to sexual intercourse. The move is aimed at extending sensitive treatment to victims of rape and sexual assault and will be reflected in the manual referred to by doctors while examining victims.
An eight-member state-appointed committee headed by Dr SD Nanandkar, head of forensic medicine department, JJ Hospital, revised the manual after considering suggestions given by the non-governmental organisation, Centre for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes (CEHAT). The directive is part of other modifications to the manual finalised at meetings held by the committee. The committee also provided a detailed chart on why they did not accept some of the suggestions.
The committee was appointed by the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) on directions passed by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court in a public interest litigation filed by advocate Vijay Patiat and social worker, Dr Ranjana Pardhi.
The revised manual states, "It has been observed that most examining doctors write their opinion in their medico-legal report to the effect that she [the victim] is habituated to sexual intercourse [or not]. It must be remembered that this opinion has no relevance at all whatsoever to the offence."
The committee cited a 2005 judgment of the Supreme Court in relation to a case from Uttar Pradesh where the court stated that the victim being "accustomed to sexual intercourse is not a determinative question. Even if it is hypothetically accepted that victim has lost virginity earlier, it need not and cannot in law, give licence to any person to rape her." A few more procedural aspects related to age determination of the victim, among others have been added.
Maharashtra is the first state in the country to make forensic examination of sexual assault victims more victim-friendly. Apart from the sensitising doctors conducting the procedure, the committee has drawn seven detailed proformas and formats to be followed by medical officers examining the victim and the accused.
20.10.11
DNA
9,000 minor MP girls go missing in 20 months
Minor girls trafficking has scourged Madhya Pradesh. Isolated recoveries of abducted or trafficked girls in Mandsaur, Mandla, Dindori or Balaghat districts in recent months don’t give a real picture of the enormity of the human trafficking.
But the number of missing girls put together from across the state since January 2010 to August 2011 is indeed alarming: over 9000. Of these missing girls, 4,000 are yet to be traced, police records said.
This is despite the state anti-trafficking cell constituted last year, following rescue of over 50 girls from the brothels of Banchda tribes along roads in Mandsaur.
“Out of the 57 girls rescued from the Banchhra, 24 were reported missing in police stations,” said GK Pathak, SP Mandsaur, who busted the flesh trade rackets. The other girls who were rescued were not reported missing as they were abducted at a very young age and are now grown ups and, therefore, it is difficult to trace them, Pathak said.
The anti-human trafficking cell has registered 46 cases of missing girls this year and rescued 85 minors.
“Of the rescued 85 girls, 75 were reported missing in various police stations. The remaining were brought by the traffickers by fooling their parents”, said Aruna Mohan Roy, IG, anti-trafficking cell.
During January 2010 to August 2011, 6022 boys too went missing and 1,937 of them are untraceable. However, the anti-trafficking cell’s main worry is missing girls.
24.10.11
TIMES OF INDIA
Lack of chemicals for DNA tests delays KURLA RAPES PROBE
Hundreds Of Samples Sent To Forensic Lab Since January Not Studied Because Of Dearth Of Supplies Or Work Backlog
More than a year after three young girls were brutally raped and murdered in Nehru Nagar,two of the cases are yet to be solved.The police say their probe is stuck because the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Kalina has not studied for months the hundreds of DNA samples of suspects they sentostensibly due to a scarcity of chemicals required for DNA profiling.
Between January and September this year,the additional police commissioners (east region) office sent 12 letters to the forensic laboratory seeking status reports on the DNA samples.On all occasions they got no reply.The only response we received from the FSL director said that the delay is due to a shortage of funds to buy the chemicals required to carry out the tests, said additional police commissioner Quaiser Khalid.The delay will give an edge to the perpetrator.It might even allow him to escape.
Since their investigation began,the police have delivered 915 DNA samples to FSL but received profile reports of only 623,the last of which came in January.The remaining 292 are yet to be tested.Even now,the local police and the crime branch send two or three DNA samples related to the Nehru Nagar murder cases a week for profiling.
Investigators said that DNA samples are being collected and sent for profiling to compare them with those found at the murder spots.The DNA samples discovered on two raped and murdered girlsfive-year-old Sania Siddique and seven-yearold Anjali Jaiswalbelong to the same person, said a police officer.After we arrested Javed Shaikh for the murder and rape of nine-year-old Nushrat Shaikh in June last year,we were able to prove his crime beyond doubt because his DNA samples matched with those collected from the victims body.
An FSL official explained that a scarcity of required chemicals halted all DNA profiling at the lab between January and May.By the time it resumed in June there was such a backlog that other cases took precedence and Nehru Nagar samples took a backseat.
Incidentally,it was the testing for the Nehru Nagar cases that indirectly caused the scarcity of chemicals.The laboratory,another source said,had rarely witnessed a manhunt of the magnitude prompted by Nehru Nagar killings,which required testing of hundreds of DNA samples.Owing to the deluge of samples last year and the urgency to test them,the laboratory actually ran out of DNA testing kits.One DNA kit can test up to 100 samples, said the source.
Even when there were no lab kits,the laboratory was still under immense pressure from the public and the state home ministry to continue checking samples.
The laboratory ended up making private purchases without tendering for want of time, said another source.When the bills for the out-ofturn purchase were sent to Mantralaya,the administration questioned why the tendering process was not followed.
This led to a delay in getting funds sanctioned to purchase test kits and other supplies such as chemicals,which in turn held up DNA profiling between January and May.DNA kits used by the FSL are manufactured by a US-based company and provided by local suppliers.
Cops draw up data on migrants in area
Mumbai: The Nehru Nagar police have been regularly collecting data of migrants staying in the locality to solve the two pending cases of rape and murder of minor girls that occurred in February and March last year.Over 10,000 people were screened since the incident occurred,though there has been no breakthrough.
Since the incidents,officials have been preparing charts of those who lived in Nehru Nagar at various points of time,hailing from across the country Karnataka,Bihar,New Delhi,Rajasthan and other states.Additional commissioner of police (east region) Quaiser Khalid,said collecting and maintaining data of migrants is an ongoing process.This makes it easier to locate and track down anyone involved in any crime even in future, Khalid said.He added the police have not stopped the data collection process.Incidentally,the Mumbai crime branch team is also keeping track of the case.
However,for three months after the police probe started,the smallscale footwear manufacturing and zari units suffered maximum losses due to shortage of labourers.Many migrants left as they were unable to work after the incident.They were picked up by the police for questioning,which scared them away, said Moosa Bhai,secretary of Shri Sai Shraddha Cooperative Society,where the first victim Sania Siddiques (6) body was found in February.
It was impossible for me to work for three months.I would get calls from police investigating the case and they would ask me to rush to different locations.Similarly,others residing in the locality were picked up at any time and later let go, Sanias father Sikander told TOI.
The other victims parents said they were satisfied with the way the police have made efforts day and night to track down the accused.
Families accept 1L state compensation
Mumbai: Following much persuasion from friends and neighbours,the families of the three girls murdered in Nehru Nagar last year have decided to accept the Rs1-lakh compensation offered by the state.
More than a month ago,the families had rejected the cheque proffered by the state home department on emotional grounds despite their limited resources.They changed their mind after well-wishers convinced them that the money could be used to clear the mounds of debt they accumulated in the wake of the killings.
The money will not bring back our child.We would not have accepted the money.However,looking at my familys condition and after repeated persuasion,I decided to take it to clear the debts I amassed while not working for a month after the incident, said Hrishikesh Jaiswal.His nine-year-old daughter Anjali was found dead in March last year on the terrace of the police quarters close to Nehru Nagar police station a day after she went missing.
Anjalis murder came almost a month after that of Sania Siddique.The six-year-olds body was found in a sack on the steps of a seven-storey building in Kurla (East).Her father Sikander told TOI that it was the local MLAs office that informed the three victims families about the compensation.My wife explained to me why we should take the money,though it cannot give us our child back.
Sikander said that he and his wife still dream of their child.I shifted to a new house a short distance away from the old one a year after the incident.I will use the money to clear the dues of Rs 30,000 I incurred while staying jobless for about three months, he said.
The parents of the third murder victim,nine-year-old Nushrat Shaikh,said they have still not come to terms with their daughters death.No parent can forget the loss of his or her child, said Shaikhs father.
CASE HISTORY
THE MURDER AND RAPE OF THREE GIRLS IN KURLA (EAST) LAST YEAR SHOCKED THE CITY
June 6,2010 |
Nine-year-old Nushrat Shaikh was playing outside her house at Shramik Nagar in Kurla (East) when Javed Shaikh,19,lured her away by offering sweets and toys.The teenager took Nushrat to a locked house in Vatsalatai,entered it through a small opening in the roof and then strangled her as she screamed.Javed then raped the child.During interrogation,Javed said he committed the crime after watching pornography on the internet.He is currently in jail
March 6,2010 |
The body of nine-year-old Anjali Jaiswal was found on the terrace of the police quarters close to Nehru Nagar police station a day after she went missing while playing outside her house.The girls corpse was spotted around 9.30am by a policemans child staying in the building.An autopsy later showed the girl had been raped before being killed.There has been no breakthrough in the case
February 7,2010 |
Six-year-old Sania Siddique went missing on the night of February 6 when she stepped out to play with her friends at Vatsalatai Nagar in Kurla (East).The next day,her body was found in a sack on the steps of a seven-storey building in Sri Sai Shradha Cooperative Housing Society.Tests later revealed that the perpetrator first raped and then killed the child.The case is yet to be solved
DNA
Supreme court rules, no corroboration required in rape cases
The Supreme Court has ruled that in rape cases there was no need for corroboration and conviction can be imposed on the sole statement of the victim as her testimony cannot be looked at with suspicion.
"It is a trite law that a woman, who is the victim of sexual assault, is not an accomplice to the crime but is a victim of another person's lust. The prosecutrix stands at a higher pedestal than an injured witness as she suffers from emotional injury. Therefore, her evidence need not be tested with the same amount of suspicion as that of an accomplice. The Indian Evidence Act nowhere says that her evidence cannot be accepted unless it is corroborated in material particulars," the apex court said.
A bench of justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan passed the ruling while dismissing an appeal filed by Mohd Imran Khan and Jamal Ahmed challenging their conviction for rape of a minor girl about 22 years ago. The defence had argued the victim's statement cannot be relied upon as she had eloped with the accused.
13.10.11
Hindustan Times
Rape victim's sexual history not relevant
n a significant move, the state government has directed government doctors who conduct medical examinations of rape victims to do away with the practice of noting whether the victim is habituated to sexual intercourse. The move is aimed at extending sensitive treatment to victims of rape and sexual assault and will be reflected in the manual referred to by doctors while examining victims.
An eight-member state-appointed committee headed by Dr SD Nanandkar, head of forensic medicine department, JJ Hospital, revised the manual after considering suggestions given by the non-governmental organisation, Centre for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes (CEHAT). The directive is part of other modifications to the manual finalised at meetings held by the committee. The committee also provided a detailed chart on why they did not accept some of the suggestions.
The committee was appointed by the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) on directions passed by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court in a public interest litigation filed by advocate Vijay Patiat and social worker, Dr Ranjana Pardhi.
The revised manual states, "It has been observed that most examining doctors write their opinion in their medico-legal report to the effect that she [the victim] is habituated to sexual intercourse [or not]. It must be remembered that this opinion has no relevance at all whatsoever to the offence."
The committee cited a 2005 judgment of the Supreme Court in relation to a case from Uttar Pradesh where the court stated that the victim being "accustomed to sexual intercourse is not a determinative question. Even if it is hypothetically accepted that victim has lost virginity earlier, it need not and cannot in law, give licence to any person to rape her." A few more procedural aspects related to age determination of the victim, among others have been added.
Maharashtra is the first state in the country to make forensic examination of sexual assault victims more victim-friendly. Apart from the sensitising doctors conducting the procedure, the committee has drawn seven detailed proformas and formats to be followed by medical officers examining the victim and the accused.
20.10.11
DNA
9,000 minor MP girls go missing in 20 months
Minor girls trafficking has scourged Madhya Pradesh. Isolated recoveries of abducted or trafficked girls in Mandsaur, Mandla, Dindori or Balaghat districts in recent months don’t give a real picture of the enormity of the human trafficking.
But the number of missing girls put together from across the state since January 2010 to August 2011 is indeed alarming: over 9000. Of these missing girls, 4,000 are yet to be traced, police records said.
This is despite the state anti-trafficking cell constituted last year, following rescue of over 50 girls from the brothels of Banchda tribes along roads in Mandsaur.
“Out of the 57 girls rescued from the Banchhra, 24 were reported missing in police stations,” said GK Pathak, SP Mandsaur, who busted the flesh trade rackets. The other girls who were rescued were not reported missing as they were abducted at a very young age and are now grown ups and, therefore, it is difficult to trace them, Pathak said.
The anti-human trafficking cell has registered 46 cases of missing girls this year and rescued 85 minors.
“Of the rescued 85 girls, 75 were reported missing in various police stations. The remaining were brought by the traffickers by fooling their parents”, said Aruna Mohan Roy, IG, anti-trafficking cell.
During January 2010 to August 2011, 6022 boys too went missing and 1,937 of them are untraceable. However, the anti-trafficking cell’s main worry is missing girls.
24.10.11
TIMES OF INDIA
Lack of chemicals for DNA tests delays KURLA RAPES PROBE
Hundreds Of Samples Sent To Forensic Lab Since January Not Studied Because Of Dearth Of Supplies Or Work Backlog
More than a year after three young girls were brutally raped and murdered in Nehru Nagar,two of the cases are yet to be solved.The police say their probe is stuck because the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Kalina has not studied for months the hundreds of DNA samples of suspects they sentostensibly due to a scarcity of chemicals required for DNA profiling.
Between January and September this year,the additional police commissioners (east region) office sent 12 letters to the forensic laboratory seeking status reports on the DNA samples.On all occasions they got no reply.The only response we received from the FSL director said that the delay is due to a shortage of funds to buy the chemicals required to carry out the tests, said additional police commissioner Quaiser Khalid.The delay will give an edge to the perpetrator.It might even allow him to escape.
Since their investigation began,the police have delivered 915 DNA samples to FSL but received profile reports of only 623,the last of which came in January.The remaining 292 are yet to be tested.Even now,the local police and the crime branch send two or three DNA samples related to the Nehru Nagar murder cases a week for profiling.
Investigators said that DNA samples are being collected and sent for profiling to compare them with those found at the murder spots.The DNA samples discovered on two raped and murdered girlsfive-year-old Sania Siddique and seven-yearold Anjali Jaiswalbelong to the same person, said a police officer.After we arrested Javed Shaikh for the murder and rape of nine-year-old Nushrat Shaikh in June last year,we were able to prove his crime beyond doubt because his DNA samples matched with those collected from the victims body.
An FSL official explained that a scarcity of required chemicals halted all DNA profiling at the lab between January and May.By the time it resumed in June there was such a backlog that other cases took precedence and Nehru Nagar samples took a backseat.
Incidentally,it was the testing for the Nehru Nagar cases that indirectly caused the scarcity of chemicals.The laboratory,another source said,had rarely witnessed a manhunt of the magnitude prompted by Nehru Nagar killings,which required testing of hundreds of DNA samples.Owing to the deluge of samples last year and the urgency to test them,the laboratory actually ran out of DNA testing kits.One DNA kit can test up to 100 samples, said the source.
Even when there were no lab kits,the laboratory was still under immense pressure from the public and the state home ministry to continue checking samples.
The laboratory ended up making private purchases without tendering for want of time, said another source.When the bills for the out-ofturn purchase were sent to Mantralaya,the administration questioned why the tendering process was not followed.
This led to a delay in getting funds sanctioned to purchase test kits and other supplies such as chemicals,which in turn held up DNA profiling between January and May.DNA kits used by the FSL are manufactured by a US-based company and provided by local suppliers.
Cops draw up data on migrants in area
Mumbai: The Nehru Nagar police have been regularly collecting data of migrants staying in the locality to solve the two pending cases of rape and murder of minor girls that occurred in February and March last year.Over 10,000 people were screened since the incident occurred,though there has been no breakthrough.
Since the incidents,officials have been preparing charts of those who lived in Nehru Nagar at various points of time,hailing from across the country Karnataka,Bihar,New Delhi,Rajasthan and other states.Additional commissioner of police (east region) Quaiser Khalid,said collecting and maintaining data of migrants is an ongoing process.This makes it easier to locate and track down anyone involved in any crime even in future, Khalid said.He added the police have not stopped the data collection process.Incidentally,the Mumbai crime branch team is also keeping track of the case.
However,for three months after the police probe started,the smallscale footwear manufacturing and zari units suffered maximum losses due to shortage of labourers.Many migrants left as they were unable to work after the incident.They were picked up by the police for questioning,which scared them away, said Moosa Bhai,secretary of Shri Sai Shraddha Cooperative Society,where the first victim Sania Siddiques (6) body was found in February.
It was impossible for me to work for three months.I would get calls from police investigating the case and they would ask me to rush to different locations.Similarly,others residing in the locality were picked up at any time and later let go, Sanias father Sikander told TOI.
The other victims parents said they were satisfied with the way the police have made efforts day and night to track down the accused.
Families accept 1L state compensation
Mumbai: Following much persuasion from friends and neighbours,the families of the three girls murdered in Nehru Nagar last year have decided to accept the Rs1-lakh compensation offered by the state.
More than a month ago,the families had rejected the cheque proffered by the state home department on emotional grounds despite their limited resources.They changed their mind after well-wishers convinced them that the money could be used to clear the mounds of debt they accumulated in the wake of the killings.
The money will not bring back our child.We would not have accepted the money.However,looking at my familys condition and after repeated persuasion,I decided to take it to clear the debts I amassed while not working for a month after the incident, said Hrishikesh Jaiswal.His nine-year-old daughter Anjali was found dead in March last year on the terrace of the police quarters close to Nehru Nagar police station a day after she went missing.
Anjalis murder came almost a month after that of Sania Siddique.The six-year-olds body was found in a sack on the steps of a seven-storey building in Kurla (East).Her father Sikander told TOI that it was the local MLAs office that informed the three victims families about the compensation.My wife explained to me why we should take the money,though it cannot give us our child back.
Sikander said that he and his wife still dream of their child.I shifted to a new house a short distance away from the old one a year after the incident.I will use the money to clear the dues of Rs 30,000 I incurred while staying jobless for about three months, he said.
The parents of the third murder victim,nine-year-old Nushrat Shaikh,said they have still not come to terms with their daughters death.No parent can forget the loss of his or her child, said Shaikhs father.
CASE HISTORY
THE MURDER AND RAPE OF THREE GIRLS IN KURLA (EAST) LAST YEAR SHOCKED THE CITY
June 6,2010 |
Nine-year-old Nushrat Shaikh was playing outside her house at Shramik Nagar in Kurla (East) when Javed Shaikh,19,lured her away by offering sweets and toys.The teenager took Nushrat to a locked house in Vatsalatai,entered it through a small opening in the roof and then strangled her as she screamed.Javed then raped the child.During interrogation,Javed said he committed the crime after watching pornography on the internet.He is currently in jail
March 6,2010 |
The body of nine-year-old Anjali Jaiswal was found on the terrace of the police quarters close to Nehru Nagar police station a day after she went missing while playing outside her house.The girls corpse was spotted around 9.30am by a policemans child staying in the building.An autopsy later showed the girl had been raped before being killed.There has been no breakthrough in the case
February 7,2010 |
Six-year-old Sania Siddique went missing on the night of February 6 when she stepped out to play with her friends at Vatsalatai Nagar in Kurla (East).The next day,her body was found in a sack on the steps of a seven-storey building in Sri Sai Shradha Cooperative Housing Society.Tests later revealed that the perpetrator first raped and then killed the child.The case is yet to be solved
October 10, 2011
6.10.11
Hindustan Times
NEED STRINGENT LAW FOR CASES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
The case of a six-year parent, who was allegedly sodomised by a teacher, has revived the debate on the need for a stringent law on child sexual abuse.
The Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Bill, which proposes harsher punishment of imprisonment from seven years to life, is still pending in the Parliament.
While the bill addresses issues such as defining sexual abuse and setting up of special courts to deal with such cases, activists have raised questions regarding the age of consent and lack of preventive clauses.
“In the absence of a special law, it is hard to prove cases in court,“ said Nishit Kumar, spokesperson, Childline, a nonprofit, which works for child rights.
The bill also recommends the appointment of a special public prosecutor in such cases.
“There is no proper law to deal with cases where victims are boys. The new bill is gender neutral, which is good,“ said Priti Patkar, who runs an NGO called Prerna that helps children of commercial sex workers.
The bill proposes to make all offences related to child sexual abuse non-bailable.
“No matter how good the draft is, if the machinery is not implemented it is useless,“ said Sangeeta Punekar, a child rights activist, adding that the bill needs to address witness protection.
Another concern for experts is the age of consent. The bill states that if a victim is between 16 to 18 years, then his/her consent needs to be considered.
Author Pinki Virani, whose book Bitter Chocolate deals with child sexual abuse in India, wrote a letter to the Parliamentary Standing Committee in July for redrafting of the bill. “Around 25% of child prostitutes are between 15 and 18 years of age.
Around five lakh children are forced into this trade every year.
The state wants to add to these figures by lowering the age (of consent),“ the letter states.
Yug Chaudhary, a criminal lawyer, said the bill could criminalise exploratory sexual behaviour among children. He said the bill widened the range of sexual offences without providing adequate protection. “If two 15-yearolds have consensual sex, the bill puts the boy in the range of criminal law and makes consensual innocence irrelevant,“ he said.
Hindustan Times
NEED STRINGENT LAW FOR CASES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
The case of a six-year parent, who was allegedly sodomised by a teacher, has revived the debate on the need for a stringent law on child sexual abuse.
The Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Bill, which proposes harsher punishment of imprisonment from seven years to life, is still pending in the Parliament.
While the bill addresses issues such as defining sexual abuse and setting up of special courts to deal with such cases, activists have raised questions regarding the age of consent and lack of preventive clauses.
“In the absence of a special law, it is hard to prove cases in court,“ said Nishit Kumar, spokesperson, Childline, a nonprofit, which works for child rights.
The bill also recommends the appointment of a special public prosecutor in such cases.
“There is no proper law to deal with cases where victims are boys. The new bill is gender neutral, which is good,“ said Priti Patkar, who runs an NGO called Prerna that helps children of commercial sex workers.
The bill proposes to make all offences related to child sexual abuse non-bailable.
“No matter how good the draft is, if the machinery is not implemented it is useless,“ said Sangeeta Punekar, a child rights activist, adding that the bill needs to address witness protection.
Another concern for experts is the age of consent. The bill states that if a victim is between 16 to 18 years, then his/her consent needs to be considered.
Author Pinki Virani, whose book Bitter Chocolate deals with child sexual abuse in India, wrote a letter to the Parliamentary Standing Committee in July for redrafting of the bill. “Around 25% of child prostitutes are between 15 and 18 years of age.
Around five lakh children are forced into this trade every year.
The state wants to add to these figures by lowering the age (of consent),“ the letter states.
Yug Chaudhary, a criminal lawyer, said the bill could criminalise exploratory sexual behaviour among children. He said the bill widened the range of sexual offences without providing adequate protection. “If two 15-yearolds have consensual sex, the bill puts the boy in the range of criminal law and makes consensual innocence irrelevant,“ he said.
October 9, 2011
8.10.11
Times of India
State manual is unscientific and biased: NGO
MUMBAI: The Mumbai-based health NGO Cehat joined the case for a streamlined medico-legal response to sexual assault. It has since sought the World Health Organization's help in drawing up the guidelines. The WHO's response to the Maharashtra pro forma was sent to the committee appointed by the HC early this year, but little has been incorporated.
"There is little emphasis on physical and psychological treatment of the victim,'' said Cehat's Sangeeta Rege, adding that the focus is still on rape and not on sexual assault. There is no mention of putting the victim on preventive treatment for HIV or pregnancy. The organization has sent a letter of protest to the directorate of health's Dr Archana Patil. "The manual just doesn't incorporate the internationally accepted definition of "sexual violence" and therefore continues to be unscientific and biased against women,'' said the letter. A long-standing demand to include a standardized checklist for doctors has also been ignored.
The activists feel that observations about a woman's nutritional status or physical constitution could lead to bias: for instance, the assumption that a well-built woman can resist sexual assault. Secondly, doctors don't need to ascertain the size of the accused's penis, his ability to assault or the presence of hymen in the victim to underline rape. "Hymen can tear due to a physical activity like cycling,'' said Rege. Lastly, some evidence may be lost because victims may delay complaining to the police or doctors. "So, stressing on the presence of injuries is not right,'' she added.
Dr Walter Vaz, who heads KEM Hospital's forensic department and is an advisor to Cehat in this case, said that certain points had to be downplayed and others to be highlighted in the pro forma. "The hymen is an overrated piece of tissue. We need to downplay it as well as potency of the accused. Gentle reminders about questions doctors need to ask patients may help,'' he said.
Lawyer-activist Flavia Agnes, who was present for the committee's meeting on August 6, concurred. "We need to stress on treatment for patients, especially those who don't want to lodge a complaint. Public hospital doctors may ask such a rape victim to go and not even treat her.''
Incidentally, the WHO observations mentioned the need for "probes'' or questions that doctors need to ask. "The victim needs to be asked if there was oral or anal sex. The doctors too are part of our society and many feel squeamish about asking such questions. Hence, we need a list of probes,'' said Rege. However, the committee has in its August 6 consultations turned down this suggestion saying that it would be a leading question. Police surgeon Dr S M Patil, who is a member of the state government committee, said that the committee comprised gynaecologists, forensic experts and resident doctors who do the actual examination of victims. "It wasn't the decision of one person. An entire committee has thought and worked it out. Moreover, it is not necessary that all that health activists say is right.'' The next hearing is on October 12.
Times of India
State manual is unscientific and biased: NGO
MUMBAI: The Mumbai-based health NGO Cehat joined the case for a streamlined medico-legal response to sexual assault. It has since sought the World Health Organization's help in drawing up the guidelines. The WHO's response to the Maharashtra pro forma was sent to the committee appointed by the HC early this year, but little has been incorporated.
"There is little emphasis on physical and psychological treatment of the victim,'' said Cehat's Sangeeta Rege, adding that the focus is still on rape and not on sexual assault. There is no mention of putting the victim on preventive treatment for HIV or pregnancy. The organization has sent a letter of protest to the directorate of health's Dr Archana Patil. "The manual just doesn't incorporate the internationally accepted definition of "sexual violence" and therefore continues to be unscientific and biased against women,'' said the letter. A long-standing demand to include a standardized checklist for doctors has also been ignored.
The activists feel that observations about a woman's nutritional status or physical constitution could lead to bias: for instance, the assumption that a well-built woman can resist sexual assault. Secondly, doctors don't need to ascertain the size of the accused's penis, his ability to assault or the presence of hymen in the victim to underline rape. "Hymen can tear due to a physical activity like cycling,'' said Rege. Lastly, some evidence may be lost because victims may delay complaining to the police or doctors. "So, stressing on the presence of injuries is not right,'' she added.
Dr Walter Vaz, who heads KEM Hospital's forensic department and is an advisor to Cehat in this case, said that certain points had to be downplayed and others to be highlighted in the pro forma. "The hymen is an overrated piece of tissue. We need to downplay it as well as potency of the accused. Gentle reminders about questions doctors need to ask patients may help,'' he said.
Lawyer-activist Flavia Agnes, who was present for the committee's meeting on August 6, concurred. "We need to stress on treatment for patients, especially those who don't want to lodge a complaint. Public hospital doctors may ask such a rape victim to go and not even treat her.''
Incidentally, the WHO observations mentioned the need for "probes'' or questions that doctors need to ask. "The victim needs to be asked if there was oral or anal sex. The doctors too are part of our society and many feel squeamish about asking such questions. Hence, we need a list of probes,'' said Rege. However, the committee has in its August 6 consultations turned down this suggestion saying that it would be a leading question. Police surgeon Dr S M Patil, who is a member of the state government committee, said that the committee comprised gynaecologists, forensic experts and resident doctors who do the actual examination of victims. "It wasn't the decision of one person. An entire committee has thought and worked it out. Moreover, it is not necessary that all that health activists say is right.'' The next hearing is on October 12.
8.10.11
THE HINDU
Defining ‘consent'
India is finally ready with a comprehensive Bill that will protect children from sexual abuse. But the Bill, says author-activist Pinki Virani, has a major flaw regarding sexual consent that needs to be immediately addressed and the stakeholders consulted before it becomes law.
With a certain Standing Committee so much in the news, let us look at what is happening with another Standing Committee looking into a Bill to protect children from sexual abuse by adults. Author-activist Pinki Virani, a National Award winner for Bitter Chocolate: Child Sexual Abuse in India, has been lobbying for a comprehensive law on this issue for more than a decade. Here, she opens up on the detailed letter she has sent the Standing Committee on what more needs to be fixed before the Parliament votes it in as a landmark law.
Excerpts from an interview…
What exactly does the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Bill, 2011, entail?
It is India's first legislation, ever, to protect children sexually from predatory adults. Children here refer to minors, i.e. ranging from newly-born to 17 years, 11 months and 29 days. At 18, the child becomes a major. To date, there is no law in India to protect those under 18 from paedophiles. The few cases being reported have been tried in adult courts under adult laws and timeframes. The Bill, when it becomes law, will change this.
Of the nine points that you say need urgent attention, which is the most important?
The Bill, bizarrely, introduces a clause that almost legalises child sexual abuse. The clause, paraphrased, says that should an adult sexually abuse a child between 16 and 18 years, it will be examined as if the child “consented”. Surreally, consent has not been taken from the real stakeholders on whether the consent age can be lowered from 18 to 16, thereby disenfranchising this entire age-group and future generations from legal protection against sexual abuse. The stakeholders can, must, and always have to be, those directly concerned.
Who are the stakeholders?
Parents and grandparents, who might also be working professionals like doctors, lawyers, psychiatrists, counsellors and even elected Members of Parliament and Assemblies whose informed insight should help shape the child's rights-space. Teachers and educationists. Young adults above 18. And those in 16-18 age group right now.
What qualifies as consent?
Here is how consent can be misconstrued if this clause is passed. A 16-year-old girl is being taught dance by an adult instructor. Like all perpetrators, he grooms her so that there will be no ongoing objection; slowly he moves in to perform several sexual acts with her. The onus to prove that she did not want “it” will be upon her. As it will on a 17-year-old-boy sodomised by an adult male known to him. Or even one whom he has recently met, and doesn't know that he has been snared into that part of the web looking for “fresh male meat”. For instance, in a chat-room on the Internet, then they meet in person and the boy is sodomised.
Is the age of consent 16 years worldwide?
It differs from country to country. In countries where it is 16, it is understood to mean “informed consent”. These nations also try to ensure that safeguards are in place for their young to fall back upon should they need immediate and sensitive legal assistance, starting with the police moving in to immediately stop the adult forcing himself/herself sexually upon the minor the moment there is a call for help, even if the minor falls in the consent-band. More so since child sex abusers rarely stop at one child/instance. Research indicates that adults can sexually abuse up to 35 children before being identified as paedophiles.
There is also a very real concern in developed nations about the appalling side-effects of child sexual abuse, which tend to criminalise the child and also carry over to future generations. Generally speaking, sexually abused children grow up misunderstanding their original sexuality; some become hyper-sexualised and are traumatised by their bisexuality. Boys can become wife-beaters, girls indifferent mothers. Some grow to become child sexual abusers themselves.
Who decides consent-age?
The stakeholders. Lowering of age requires a differently-worded and independent law; it cannot be a part of this Bill, which needs to be passed through both houses of Parliament after due discussion. Before this informed consent needs to be taken from the stakeholders by spelling out the pros and cons. Stakeholders can be informed through print, TV and radio ads to access a particular site on nic.in. Ministries have enough “advertising money”, which can also be more effectively utilised towards informing stakeholders who do not have access to nic.
With more Indian teenagers having sex at a younger age, what is the harm in lowering the age of consent?
First, don't confuse adults preying upon children sexually with teens experimenting between themselves. Second, there are overwhelming factors leading to too-early sexualisation of Indian teens that need to be addressed. What, then, would be the next lowering of age-band, from 16 to 13, then 10? Third and finally, it is a decision to be taken by the stakeholders, not by politicians alone. As the clause now stands it leaves our children at the mercy of adult sexual abusers.
Will existing laws on prostitution or their stricter implementation help reduce the number of children forced into the flesh trade?
Child prostitution has become pervasive. India ranks high internationally in child-sex-tourism and pornography. With the police cracking down in Thailand and Amsterdam, paedophiles have turned their attention to India. Children form a sickening chunk of the Rs. 40,000 crore commercial sex industry. Of this, 25 per cent of the child prostitutes are between 15 and 18 years of age; this is bound to increase should the “consent” age be decreased.
Given that 53 per cent of Indian children are subjected to sexual abuse, don't you think it is also important to educate children about sex?
Prevention is better than cure always, especially when it comes to child sexual abuse. The HRD ministry must formulate a graded module on sex education — schools can call it whatever they want if they don't want to use the word “sex” — for schools and colleges. This incremental information should be disseminated and each school/college can then apply it to their own cultural environment after discussion and with the active collaboration of their Parent-Teacher Associations. Teachers can conduct one interactive class per year (starting from primary going up to Class XII). The education-modules should include child sexual abuse but not be limited to it and expand age-appropriately to provide holistic information on the body, its rights and its responsibilities.
Would you say that if government reduces the consent age from 18 to 16 without consulting stakeholders, the most vulnerable will be mostly street children, young labour, and college freshers vis-à-vis ragging?
Well, yes and no. What about children who are equally vulnerable in middle and upper-class homes? Research shows that child sexual abuse cuts across class, money and religious lines. The statistics speak for themselves: 50 per cent of the children are sexually assaulted in their own homes. Perpetrators frequently “groom” the child to ensure that it will be compliant. To reduce the age of consent from 18 to 16 is to increase the risk. College-going call-girls and boy-toys/stud-boys would be seen as legally “consenting” when they give sex in exchange for money/drugs/better report cards et al, thereby legalising the use of a young body as barter.
This is the only Bill that, when it becomes law, will protect not only our current generation of children but every generation hereafter.
What can you do?
Readers can send their letters to the Rajya Sabha's committee currently examining the Bill, addressed to: Mr. Oscar Fernandes, Rajya Sabha MP, Head, Parliamentary Standing Committee, Human Resource Development, Rm 515, 5th floor, Parliament House Annexe, Delhi 110001.
8.10.11
THE HINDU
Plan to set up women and child welfare department: Chandy
First Child Resource Centre in country set up in Thrissur
The State government is planning to set up a separate department for women and child development, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said.
He was speaking after inaugurating a UNICEF-aided Child Resource Centre, which will guide local governments on effective child-centric governance, at the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), near here, on Saturday.
“The State Planning Board has suggested such a department on the lines of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development. The proposed department will function under the Social Welfare Minister,” he said.
Kerala was one of the few States, which had implemented the guidelines of the Integrated Programme for Child Protection of the Union government, he said. A Child Protection Council had already been set up in the State, he said.
Mr. Chandy urged the local governments to activate grama sabhas to strengthen democratic decentralisation.
The State government had submitted an application to the Union Ministry of Human Resources for securing deemed university status for KILA, the Chief Minister said.
Minister for Social Welfare and Grama Panchayats M.K. Muneer said that the State would have a Nutrition Policy soon. The main focus of the policy would be to provide nutritional food to growing children, the Minister said.
“Even while the State claims high health standards, 70 per cent of children in the tribal areas are victims of persistent poverty and malnutrition,” he said.
Though there were more than 33,000 anganwadis in the State, there was no system to monitor their activities, he said.
Sathish Kumar, Chief of Field Office (Kerala and Tamil Nadu), UNICEF, said lack of stringent punishment to culprits was promoting the violence against children in the State.
“About 60 per cent of the abusers are close relatives of the children. So majority of the crimes go unreported. The conspiracy of silence around child sexual abuse in society has to be shattered,” he said.
The focus of UNICEF's programme in Kerala would be to address the second generation development problems, including high suicide rates and increasing cases of child abuse, Dr. Satish Kumar said.
The Child Resource Centre (CRC), first of its kind in the country, would facilitate Local governments to design and implement comprehensive child development programmes. The major activities of the CRC would include organising training programmes for members of local governments, setting up of on-line repository on child governance, formation of consortium of stakeholders engaged in child governance, and policy advocacy.
A handbook, a training manual, and a video on ‘Comprehensive Child Development and local governments' were released on the occasion.
District panchayat president K.V. Dasan; and KILA Director P.P. Balan, and assistant professor Peter M. Raj were among those participated in the programme.
THE HINDU
Defining ‘consent'
India is finally ready with a comprehensive Bill that will protect children from sexual abuse. But the Bill, says author-activist Pinki Virani, has a major flaw regarding sexual consent that needs to be immediately addressed and the stakeholders consulted before it becomes law.
With a certain Standing Committee so much in the news, let us look at what is happening with another Standing Committee looking into a Bill to protect children from sexual abuse by adults. Author-activist Pinki Virani, a National Award winner for Bitter Chocolate: Child Sexual Abuse in India, has been lobbying for a comprehensive law on this issue for more than a decade. Here, she opens up on the detailed letter she has sent the Standing Committee on what more needs to be fixed before the Parliament votes it in as a landmark law.
Excerpts from an interview…
What exactly does the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Bill, 2011, entail?
It is India's first legislation, ever, to protect children sexually from predatory adults. Children here refer to minors, i.e. ranging from newly-born to 17 years, 11 months and 29 days. At 18, the child becomes a major. To date, there is no law in India to protect those under 18 from paedophiles. The few cases being reported have been tried in adult courts under adult laws and timeframes. The Bill, when it becomes law, will change this.
Of the nine points that you say need urgent attention, which is the most important?
The Bill, bizarrely, introduces a clause that almost legalises child sexual abuse. The clause, paraphrased, says that should an adult sexually abuse a child between 16 and 18 years, it will be examined as if the child “consented”. Surreally, consent has not been taken from the real stakeholders on whether the consent age can be lowered from 18 to 16, thereby disenfranchising this entire age-group and future generations from legal protection against sexual abuse. The stakeholders can, must, and always have to be, those directly concerned.
Who are the stakeholders?
Parents and grandparents, who might also be working professionals like doctors, lawyers, psychiatrists, counsellors and even elected Members of Parliament and Assemblies whose informed insight should help shape the child's rights-space. Teachers and educationists. Young adults above 18. And those in 16-18 age group right now.
What qualifies as consent?
Here is how consent can be misconstrued if this clause is passed. A 16-year-old girl is being taught dance by an adult instructor. Like all perpetrators, he grooms her so that there will be no ongoing objection; slowly he moves in to perform several sexual acts with her. The onus to prove that she did not want “it” will be upon her. As it will on a 17-year-old-boy sodomised by an adult male known to him. Or even one whom he has recently met, and doesn't know that he has been snared into that part of the web looking for “fresh male meat”. For instance, in a chat-room on the Internet, then they meet in person and the boy is sodomised.
Is the age of consent 16 years worldwide?
It differs from country to country. In countries where it is 16, it is understood to mean “informed consent”. These nations also try to ensure that safeguards are in place for their young to fall back upon should they need immediate and sensitive legal assistance, starting with the police moving in to immediately stop the adult forcing himself/herself sexually upon the minor the moment there is a call for help, even if the minor falls in the consent-band. More so since child sex abusers rarely stop at one child/instance. Research indicates that adults can sexually abuse up to 35 children before being identified as paedophiles.
There is also a very real concern in developed nations about the appalling side-effects of child sexual abuse, which tend to criminalise the child and also carry over to future generations. Generally speaking, sexually abused children grow up misunderstanding their original sexuality; some become hyper-sexualised and are traumatised by their bisexuality. Boys can become wife-beaters, girls indifferent mothers. Some grow to become child sexual abusers themselves.
Who decides consent-age?
The stakeholders. Lowering of age requires a differently-worded and independent law; it cannot be a part of this Bill, which needs to be passed through both houses of Parliament after due discussion. Before this informed consent needs to be taken from the stakeholders by spelling out the pros and cons. Stakeholders can be informed through print, TV and radio ads to access a particular site on nic.in. Ministries have enough “advertising money”, which can also be more effectively utilised towards informing stakeholders who do not have access to nic.
With more Indian teenagers having sex at a younger age, what is the harm in lowering the age of consent?
First, don't confuse adults preying upon children sexually with teens experimenting between themselves. Second, there are overwhelming factors leading to too-early sexualisation of Indian teens that need to be addressed. What, then, would be the next lowering of age-band, from 16 to 13, then 10? Third and finally, it is a decision to be taken by the stakeholders, not by politicians alone. As the clause now stands it leaves our children at the mercy of adult sexual abusers.
Will existing laws on prostitution or their stricter implementation help reduce the number of children forced into the flesh trade?
Child prostitution has become pervasive. India ranks high internationally in child-sex-tourism and pornography. With the police cracking down in Thailand and Amsterdam, paedophiles have turned their attention to India. Children form a sickening chunk of the Rs. 40,000 crore commercial sex industry. Of this, 25 per cent of the child prostitutes are between 15 and 18 years of age; this is bound to increase should the “consent” age be decreased.
Given that 53 per cent of Indian children are subjected to sexual abuse, don't you think it is also important to educate children about sex?
Prevention is better than cure always, especially when it comes to child sexual abuse. The HRD ministry must formulate a graded module on sex education — schools can call it whatever they want if they don't want to use the word “sex” — for schools and colleges. This incremental information should be disseminated and each school/college can then apply it to their own cultural environment after discussion and with the active collaboration of their Parent-Teacher Associations. Teachers can conduct one interactive class per year (starting from primary going up to Class XII). The education-modules should include child sexual abuse but not be limited to it and expand age-appropriately to provide holistic information on the body, its rights and its responsibilities.
Would you say that if government reduces the consent age from 18 to 16 without consulting stakeholders, the most vulnerable will be mostly street children, young labour, and college freshers vis-à-vis ragging?
Well, yes and no. What about children who are equally vulnerable in middle and upper-class homes? Research shows that child sexual abuse cuts across class, money and religious lines. The statistics speak for themselves: 50 per cent of the children are sexually assaulted in their own homes. Perpetrators frequently “groom” the child to ensure that it will be compliant. To reduce the age of consent from 18 to 16 is to increase the risk. College-going call-girls and boy-toys/stud-boys would be seen as legally “consenting” when they give sex in exchange for money/drugs/better report cards et al, thereby legalising the use of a young body as barter.
This is the only Bill that, when it becomes law, will protect not only our current generation of children but every generation hereafter.
What can you do?
Readers can send their letters to the Rajya Sabha's committee currently examining the Bill, addressed to: Mr. Oscar Fernandes, Rajya Sabha MP, Head, Parliamentary Standing Committee, Human Resource Development, Rm 515, 5th floor, Parliament House Annexe, Delhi 110001.
8.10.11
THE HINDU
Plan to set up women and child welfare department: Chandy
First Child Resource Centre in country set up in Thrissur
The State government is planning to set up a separate department for women and child development, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said.
He was speaking after inaugurating a UNICEF-aided Child Resource Centre, which will guide local governments on effective child-centric governance, at the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), near here, on Saturday.
“The State Planning Board has suggested such a department on the lines of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development. The proposed department will function under the Social Welfare Minister,” he said.
Kerala was one of the few States, which had implemented the guidelines of the Integrated Programme for Child Protection of the Union government, he said. A Child Protection Council had already been set up in the State, he said.
Mr. Chandy urged the local governments to activate grama sabhas to strengthen democratic decentralisation.
The State government had submitted an application to the Union Ministry of Human Resources for securing deemed university status for KILA, the Chief Minister said.
Minister for Social Welfare and Grama Panchayats M.K. Muneer said that the State would have a Nutrition Policy soon. The main focus of the policy would be to provide nutritional food to growing children, the Minister said.
“Even while the State claims high health standards, 70 per cent of children in the tribal areas are victims of persistent poverty and malnutrition,” he said.
Though there were more than 33,000 anganwadis in the State, there was no system to monitor their activities, he said.
Sathish Kumar, Chief of Field Office (Kerala and Tamil Nadu), UNICEF, said lack of stringent punishment to culprits was promoting the violence against children in the State.
“About 60 per cent of the abusers are close relatives of the children. So majority of the crimes go unreported. The conspiracy of silence around child sexual abuse in society has to be shattered,” he said.
The focus of UNICEF's programme in Kerala would be to address the second generation development problems, including high suicide rates and increasing cases of child abuse, Dr. Satish Kumar said.
The Child Resource Centre (CRC), first of its kind in the country, would facilitate Local governments to design and implement comprehensive child development programmes. The major activities of the CRC would include organising training programmes for members of local governments, setting up of on-line repository on child governance, formation of consortium of stakeholders engaged in child governance, and policy advocacy.
A handbook, a training manual, and a video on ‘Comprehensive Child Development and local governments' were released on the occasion.
District panchayat president K.V. Dasan; and KILA Director P.P. Balan, and assistant professor Peter M. Raj were among those participated in the programme.
October 4, 2011
Times of India
Teacher held for sodomy in Walkeshwar
MUMBAI: A six-year-old student of Walkeshwar's Manav Mandir School was allegedly repeatedly sodomized by his physical education teacher last week. The parents said the school tried to hush up the issue and protect the teacher by blaming another student. The Malabar Hill police arrested Shivaji Tawade on Sunday night and charged him with unnatural sex and criminal intimidation.
Tawade allegedly asked Rehan (name changed to protect identity) to accompany him to the bathroom on Wednesday morning. He then allegedly sexually abused him and warned him not to tell anyone about what had happened.
The next day, Tawade allegedly repeated the act, after which Rehan broke down. Tawade also reportedly threatened Rehan that he would throw him under a running bus if he revealed his name, and told him to tell his parents that Sahil (name changed), a class VI student, was abusing him.
When Rehan went home that day, his parents found him distressed. Rehan's father said, "He refused to go to school and said he wanted to stay home for some days. When we tried to cajole him, he started crying and told us that Sahil had molested him." Rehan's mother went to his school the next day and complained to the administrator about Sahil. The administrator, T R K Varma, told Sahil's mathematics teacher, Hiren, to find out what had happened.
Sahil's parents alleged that Hiren was Tawde's co-conspirator and forced Sahil to write a confession, claiming that he had accompanied Rehan to the toilet and molested him. "He made my son write five letters as he was not satisfied with the exact words. He dictated the letter and told him that if he didn't do as told, his parents would be notified and he would be expelled from school," said Sahil's mother. The letter was given to the administrator, who rusticated Sahil for three days to conduct an enquiry. "Even I cannot believe that an 11-year-old boy can do something like this. But since Rehan's mother had given a written complaint and the boy confessed, we had to temporarily suspend him. We are cooperating with the police," said Varma.
Rehan was upset and unusually quiet, which was causing concern to his family. He started bleeding when his mother was bathing him on Sunday. When his shocked parents asked him if he was hiding anything, Rehan revealed what Tawade had done to him and how he had forced him to frame Sahil. His parents then filed a police complaint, apologized to Sahil's parents for the false complaint, and told them what exactly happened.
Rehan was taken to the Nagpada police hospital for a checkup.
Tawade has been remanded to police custody till Friday. "We have completed a panchnama and have interrogated the school authorities. Investigations are on," said Vinay Bagade, Malabar Hill senior police inspector.
The families of Sahil and Rehan have demanded that the principal reinstate Sahil and dismiss Tawade and Hiren. "The principal is being uncooperative and trying to save the teachers. How can we let our children study in such a school," they asked.
COUNSELLING CRUCIAL, SHOCKED PRINCIPALS
MUMBAI: The Walkeshwar sodomy incident has left school principals across the city in a state of panic. What worried most of them was the increasing cases over the past year and the vulnerability of students falling prey to such incidents.
"Counseling is the first and most important step a school has to take as it may not be only the student who was victimized but others who know about the incident may also be affected," said Rekha Shahani, principal, Kamla High School, Khar (W). She said such incidents leave a "lifetime of fear" in students and parents and it was important to seek professional help.
The Walkeshwar school's alleged attempt to brush the issue under the carpet has left many educationists shocked. "No matter who is at fault, schools must never ignore such incidents. Action should be taken immediately, to assure other parents that their children are safe, and to warn those with similar intentions," said the principal of a South Mumbai school.
"One must think about the trauma the child and parents go through, rather than worry about their image in society," the principal added.
While most schools have started counseling sessions for students, many principals agreed that it was important to sensitize even young children. "It is important to teach all the difference between a good and bad touch," said Deepshikha Srivastava, principal, Rajhans Vidyalaya, Andheri. Psychiatrists said it was important for schools to seek help from outside counselors in such cases.
4.9.11
Hindustan Times
'Teach children to report sexual abuse'
The arrest of a Walkeshwar schoolteacher on Monday for allegedly sodomising a six-year-old student underscores the need of preventive programmes and stringent security policies as most cases of child sexual abuse are not reported, say child rights activists.
"Nearly 180 million children in India are marginalised and are extremely vulnerable," said Nishit Kumar, spokesperson for Childline, a non-profit which runs a help line for children. "It is critical to organise preventive programmes so that children can recognise and avoid abuse." In March, Childline started an awareness programme in 600 schools in the city, using story-telling to make children aware of sexual abuse.
Arpan, an NGO that works to protect children from sexual abuse, recently completed a six-day personal safety workshop at Bombay Cambridge School, Andheri, and will start a similar initiative in the city's low-income group schools after Diwali.
"This programme is essential because it helps children speak out," said Savita, principal, Bombay Cambridge School. "They need to know that if something goes wrong it is not their fault and they can share it."
According to a 2007 report by the ministry of women and child development (see box), 53.22% of the 12,447 children surveyed across 13 states said that they had faced one or more form of sexual abuse, but most did not report it. Although abuse is prevalent in all strata of society, those most vulnerable include children on the streets, along with those made to work, and the ones in institutional care.
"Much work needs to be done in the area of prevention," said Pooja Taparia, founder and CEO of Arpan. "Moreover, parents need awareness and knowledge on how to intervene appropriately when abuse is reported. Often, children feel uncomfortable about opening up because parents do not believe them."
Priti Patkar, director of Prerna, an NGO which provides shelter to children of commercial sex workers, said schools should screen their staff. "Children may or may not retain safety training, but schools must have a child protection policy and a dedicated mechanism to receive complaints."
Hindustan Times
Schools skirt sex education debate by opting for counselling, slideshows
City schools are no longer shy of addressing issues related to child sexual abuse and many have started conducting sessions in which children and parents are made aware about the issue. "Cases of sexual harassment have been on the rise in schools and younger children are more vulnerable as they may not be able to express themselves," said Deepshikha Srivastav, principal of Rajhans Vidyalaya, Andheri. "We have full-time counsellors who conduct sessions on good touch and bad touch," she added.
Like Rajhans, other schools have also responded to the demand for such awareness. A few months ago, parents of students from Eurokids, Versova, had complained about a young teacher who allegedly taught toddlers how to kiss.
Following the incident, another pre-school, Podar Jumbo Kids, Santacruz, prepared a slideshow on the difference between a 'good touch' and a 'bad touch'. The slideshow is shown to toddlers' parents, staff members and even bus attendants. Moreover, all Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools have an adolescent development programme wherein children are taught about sex education, among other things.
However, whether sex education is required at the school level is still a strongly debated issue. When asked if it should be made mandatory, Srivastav said, "Children are too young to understand what is sexual and what is asexual. But they can be taught a lot of things indirectly which conveys the message better."
Activists, and survivors of child sexual abuse have a different opinion on sex education. "We need to understand the difference between sex education and pornography. Sex education will not provoke children but will enable them to come up the right words to indicate an act of abuse," said Harish Iyer, a media professional, who was a victim of sexual abuse for 11 years. "Had I known at the age of five what was happening with me, I wouldn't have been abused for so long. Sex education is the need of the hour."
Teacher held for sodomy in Walkeshwar
MUMBAI: A six-year-old student of Walkeshwar's Manav Mandir School was allegedly repeatedly sodomized by his physical education teacher last week. The parents said the school tried to hush up the issue and protect the teacher by blaming another student. The Malabar Hill police arrested Shivaji Tawade on Sunday night and charged him with unnatural sex and criminal intimidation.
Tawade allegedly asked Rehan (name changed to protect identity) to accompany him to the bathroom on Wednesday morning. He then allegedly sexually abused him and warned him not to tell anyone about what had happened.
The next day, Tawade allegedly repeated the act, after which Rehan broke down. Tawade also reportedly threatened Rehan that he would throw him under a running bus if he revealed his name, and told him to tell his parents that Sahil (name changed), a class VI student, was abusing him.
When Rehan went home that day, his parents found him distressed. Rehan's father said, "He refused to go to school and said he wanted to stay home for some days. When we tried to cajole him, he started crying and told us that Sahil had molested him." Rehan's mother went to his school the next day and complained to the administrator about Sahil. The administrator, T R K Varma, told Sahil's mathematics teacher, Hiren, to find out what had happened.
Sahil's parents alleged that Hiren was Tawde's co-conspirator and forced Sahil to write a confession, claiming that he had accompanied Rehan to the toilet and molested him. "He made my son write five letters as he was not satisfied with the exact words. He dictated the letter and told him that if he didn't do as told, his parents would be notified and he would be expelled from school," said Sahil's mother. The letter was given to the administrator, who rusticated Sahil for three days to conduct an enquiry. "Even I cannot believe that an 11-year-old boy can do something like this. But since Rehan's mother had given a written complaint and the boy confessed, we had to temporarily suspend him. We are cooperating with the police," said Varma.
Rehan was upset and unusually quiet, which was causing concern to his family. He started bleeding when his mother was bathing him on Sunday. When his shocked parents asked him if he was hiding anything, Rehan revealed what Tawade had done to him and how he had forced him to frame Sahil. His parents then filed a police complaint, apologized to Sahil's parents for the false complaint, and told them what exactly happened.
Rehan was taken to the Nagpada police hospital for a checkup.
Tawade has been remanded to police custody till Friday. "We have completed a panchnama and have interrogated the school authorities. Investigations are on," said Vinay Bagade, Malabar Hill senior police inspector.
The families of Sahil and Rehan have demanded that the principal reinstate Sahil and dismiss Tawade and Hiren. "The principal is being uncooperative and trying to save the teachers. How can we let our children study in such a school," they asked.
COUNSELLING CRUCIAL, SHOCKED PRINCIPALS
MUMBAI: The Walkeshwar sodomy incident has left school principals across the city in a state of panic. What worried most of them was the increasing cases over the past year and the vulnerability of students falling prey to such incidents.
"Counseling is the first and most important step a school has to take as it may not be only the student who was victimized but others who know about the incident may also be affected," said Rekha Shahani, principal, Kamla High School, Khar (W). She said such incidents leave a "lifetime of fear" in students and parents and it was important to seek professional help.
The Walkeshwar school's alleged attempt to brush the issue under the carpet has left many educationists shocked. "No matter who is at fault, schools must never ignore such incidents. Action should be taken immediately, to assure other parents that their children are safe, and to warn those with similar intentions," said the principal of a South Mumbai school.
"One must think about the trauma the child and parents go through, rather than worry about their image in society," the principal added.
While most schools have started counseling sessions for students, many principals agreed that it was important to sensitize even young children. "It is important to teach all the difference between a good and bad touch," said Deepshikha Srivastava, principal, Rajhans Vidyalaya, Andheri. Psychiatrists said it was important for schools to seek help from outside counselors in such cases.
4.9.11
Hindustan Times
'Teach children to report sexual abuse'
The arrest of a Walkeshwar schoolteacher on Monday for allegedly sodomising a six-year-old student underscores the need of preventive programmes and stringent security policies as most cases of child sexual abuse are not reported, say child rights activists.
"Nearly 180 million children in India are marginalised and are extremely vulnerable," said Nishit Kumar, spokesperson for Childline, a non-profit which runs a help line for children. "It is critical to organise preventive programmes so that children can recognise and avoid abuse." In March, Childline started an awareness programme in 600 schools in the city, using story-telling to make children aware of sexual abuse.
Arpan, an NGO that works to protect children from sexual abuse, recently completed a six-day personal safety workshop at Bombay Cambridge School, Andheri, and will start a similar initiative in the city's low-income group schools after Diwali.
"This programme is essential because it helps children speak out," said Savita, principal, Bombay Cambridge School. "They need to know that if something goes wrong it is not their fault and they can share it."
According to a 2007 report by the ministry of women and child development (see box), 53.22% of the 12,447 children surveyed across 13 states said that they had faced one or more form of sexual abuse, but most did not report it. Although abuse is prevalent in all strata of society, those most vulnerable include children on the streets, along with those made to work, and the ones in institutional care.
"Much work needs to be done in the area of prevention," said Pooja Taparia, founder and CEO of Arpan. "Moreover, parents need awareness and knowledge on how to intervene appropriately when abuse is reported. Often, children feel uncomfortable about opening up because parents do not believe them."
Priti Patkar, director of Prerna, an NGO which provides shelter to children of commercial sex workers, said schools should screen their staff. "Children may or may not retain safety training, but schools must have a child protection policy and a dedicated mechanism to receive complaints."
Hindustan Times
Schools skirt sex education debate by opting for counselling, slideshows
City schools are no longer shy of addressing issues related to child sexual abuse and many have started conducting sessions in which children and parents are made aware about the issue. "Cases of sexual harassment have been on the rise in schools and younger children are more vulnerable as they may not be able to express themselves," said Deepshikha Srivastav, principal of Rajhans Vidyalaya, Andheri. "We have full-time counsellors who conduct sessions on good touch and bad touch," she added.
Like Rajhans, other schools have also responded to the demand for such awareness. A few months ago, parents of students from Eurokids, Versova, had complained about a young teacher who allegedly taught toddlers how to kiss.
Following the incident, another pre-school, Podar Jumbo Kids, Santacruz, prepared a slideshow on the difference between a 'good touch' and a 'bad touch'. The slideshow is shown to toddlers' parents, staff members and even bus attendants. Moreover, all Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools have an adolescent development programme wherein children are taught about sex education, among other things.
However, whether sex education is required at the school level is still a strongly debated issue. When asked if it should be made mandatory, Srivastav said, "Children are too young to understand what is sexual and what is asexual. But they can be taught a lot of things indirectly which conveys the message better."
Activists, and survivors of child sexual abuse have a different opinion on sex education. "We need to understand the difference between sex education and pornography. Sex education will not provoke children but will enable them to come up the right words to indicate an act of abuse," said Harish Iyer, a media professional, who was a victim of sexual abuse for 11 years. "Had I known at the age of five what was happening with me, I wouldn't have been abused for so long. Sex education is the need of the hour."
October 1, 2011
1.10.11
Mumbai Mirror
Omar says sorry after J&K govt gives out names of rape victims
Srinagar A few days after the Jammu and Kashmir government made public the names of hundreds of rape victims from the state, triggering massive outrage, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday tendered an unqualified apology for the insensitive act.
“Since I am the chief minister and the home minister of the state, I have a deep sense of shame and a deep sense of apology over the disclosures of the names of rape victims. I tender an unqualified apology to the rape victims and their families and I will ensure such a thing does not happen again,” Abdullah told the Assembly.
Responding to a question in the Assembly seeking details of rape victims, the state home ministry, headed by the CM, not only gave tehsil-wise details of the rapes but also the names of the victims, their parents and residential addresses.
Abdullah assured the house that he would get back to the members after making a thorough enquiry as to why the list was released.
The publication of rape victims' names is in contravention of Section 228 (A) of the Indian Penal Code that deals with the disclosure of the identity of the victim of certain offences.
A total of 1,326 rapes cases had been registered in the state since 2006. However, only one person had been convicted of the crime so far during the last five years, the government reply said.
Bulk of the rape cases are sub-judice or under investigation.
Mumbai Mirror
Omar says sorry after J&K govt gives out names of rape victims
Srinagar A few days after the Jammu and Kashmir government made public the names of hundreds of rape victims from the state, triggering massive outrage, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday tendered an unqualified apology for the insensitive act.
“Since I am the chief minister and the home minister of the state, I have a deep sense of shame and a deep sense of apology over the disclosures of the names of rape victims. I tender an unqualified apology to the rape victims and their families and I will ensure such a thing does not happen again,” Abdullah told the Assembly.
Responding to a question in the Assembly seeking details of rape victims, the state home ministry, headed by the CM, not only gave tehsil-wise details of the rapes but also the names of the victims, their parents and residential addresses.
Abdullah assured the house that he would get back to the members after making a thorough enquiry as to why the list was released.
The publication of rape victims' names is in contravention of Section 228 (A) of the Indian Penal Code that deals with the disclosure of the identity of the victim of certain offences.
A total of 1,326 rapes cases had been registered in the state since 2006. However, only one person had been convicted of the crime so far during the last five years, the government reply said.
Bulk of the rape cases are sub-judice or under investigation.
29.9.11
Hindustan times
Crimes against women on the rise
Despite the tall claims of equality and empowerment, women in Mumbai are feeling increasingly unsafe and instances of violence against them are on the rise.
While some crimes such as dowry-related deaths and harassment have seen a steep decline, serious offences such as rape,
Molestation and kidnapping have increased drastically.
Until August 2010, the Mumbai police had registered 39 cases of rape; the number has shot up to 56 for same period this year. Similarly, 12 women were reported kidnapped from January to August 2010, which has increased to 19 for the same period this year.
The safety perception takes its most serious hit when molestation cases are compared — from 287 recorded until August 2010, they have risen to 345 this year.
A senior woman police officer said, “Most labourers living here are alien and are mostly staying alone or with other men. Their families, if any, are back in their hometowns and to fulfill their prurient desires they target women in their area, which leads to increase in cases of rape and molestation.”
According to Jaywant Hargude, assistant commissioner of police (crime branch), “Earlier, women were scared to approach the police fearing societal stigma, but now they have become bold and want their tormentor punished.”
Hindustan times
Crimes against women on the rise
Despite the tall claims of equality and empowerment, women in Mumbai are feeling increasingly unsafe and instances of violence against them are on the rise.
While some crimes such as dowry-related deaths and harassment have seen a steep decline, serious offences such as rape,
Molestation and kidnapping have increased drastically.
Until August 2010, the Mumbai police had registered 39 cases of rape; the number has shot up to 56 for same period this year. Similarly, 12 women were reported kidnapped from January to August 2010, which has increased to 19 for the same period this year.
The safety perception takes its most serious hit when molestation cases are compared — from 287 recorded until August 2010, they have risen to 345 this year.
A senior woman police officer said, “Most labourers living here are alien and are mostly staying alone or with other men. Their families, if any, are back in their hometowns and to fulfill their prurient desires they target women in their area, which leads to increase in cases of rape and molestation.”
According to Jaywant Hargude, assistant commissioner of police (crime branch), “Earlier, women were scared to approach the police fearing societal stigma, but now they have become bold and want their tormentor punished.”
25.9.11
Times of India
Medical evidence not always must to prove rape: HC
NAGPUR: Without strong medical evidence, the offence of rape is difficult to prove. However, in a landmark verdict, the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court has ruled that medical evidence is not always necessary to prove an offence of rape.
"Merely because there is no medical evidence to prove sexual intercourse, it can't be held that the accused is innocent," a single-judge bench of justice UV Bakre ruled, adding that 'this is because there is strong, truthful and reliable evidence of the victim.' The court dismissed the appeal filed by Maroti Sadmake, a Gadchiroli headmaster who was convicted of raping a minor by a lower court, after almost nine years of the crime.
Citing a report by Dr Sadhana Joshi, who examined 12-yearold Komolika (name changed) for ascertaining injuries and sexual assault, the court observed that 'in girls aged about 13-14 years, the hymen is tough and without rupture of hymen, the sexual intercourse is possible with slight penetration.' Justice Bakre, while upholding the Gadchiroli sessions court verdict of convicting Sadmake, ruled that victim's testimony 'inspires full confidence, is wholly reliable and has circumstantial support of the testimonies of other witnesses'.
Komolika, a Std IV student of an ashramshala in Dhanora, used to stay in the hostel at the time of the incident. After the exam, some students went home, but Komolika stayed back. On April 16, 1994, around 8pm, when she was returning after attending nature's call, Sadmake forcibly took her to a nearby field and raped her.
Times of India
Medical evidence not always must to prove rape: HC
NAGPUR: Without strong medical evidence, the offence of rape is difficult to prove. However, in a landmark verdict, the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court has ruled that medical evidence is not always necessary to prove an offence of rape.
"Merely because there is no medical evidence to prove sexual intercourse, it can't be held that the accused is innocent," a single-judge bench of justice UV Bakre ruled, adding that 'this is because there is strong, truthful and reliable evidence of the victim.' The court dismissed the appeal filed by Maroti Sadmake, a Gadchiroli headmaster who was convicted of raping a minor by a lower court, after almost nine years of the crime.
Citing a report by Dr Sadhana Joshi, who examined 12-yearold Komolika (name changed) for ascertaining injuries and sexual assault, the court observed that 'in girls aged about 13-14 years, the hymen is tough and without rupture of hymen, the sexual intercourse is possible with slight penetration.' Justice Bakre, while upholding the Gadchiroli sessions court verdict of convicting Sadmake, ruled that victim's testimony 'inspires full confidence, is wholly reliable and has circumstantial support of the testimonies of other witnesses'.
Komolika, a Std IV student of an ashramshala in Dhanora, used to stay in the hostel at the time of the incident. After the exam, some students went home, but Komolika stayed back. On April 16, 1994, around 8pm, when she was returning after attending nature's call, Sadmake forcibly took her to a nearby field and raped her.
September 20, 2011
19.9.11
DNA
Where men pimp for their daughters, sisters
Every evening, the roads along Bharatpur district in Rajasthan are lit by lanterns and flashlights held by sex workers trying to attract customers. The girls are accompanied by their brothers or fathers who haggle with truck drivers to fix a price for the sex workers, who are often between 13 and 15 years.
While many of us may recoil in disgust at the practice of family members pimping their underage relatives, the initiation of adolescent girls in the flesh trade by their own kin is an accepted norm in Bharatpur. Here, women are expected to sell their bodies to support their families in which the men have no other work but to find customers for their sisters and daughters.
The custom is now the subject of a documentary Trapped by Tradition, which is made by American television news channel CNN International. The 30-minute film follows actor-producer Anil Kapoor to a village in Bharatpur, where he examines how poverty, illiteracy and social pressures have contributed to the tradition of trafficking female children.
As the women share ghastly tales of exploitation and helplessness, Kapoor also lends a ear to the male members to understand why sexual exploitation of minor girls is sanctioned by society. “In today’s modern world, this practice is unacceptable.
We should do whatever we can to eradicate it completely,” said Kapoor, who has been involved in campaigns against human trafficking for the past several years with Plan India, an organisation working to protect children against abuse and exploitation.
“It was clear that we must change the mindset of the people. They had to understand there are other options,” he added. Kapoor has now noticed a growing awareness in the community, something that was missing two years ago when he last visited Bharatpur. A little girl told him she wants to study and become an actress. Kapoor believes that through education people will learn about lifestyle choices outside Bharatpur and India’s sex trade.
The documentary will be premiered on CNN International on September 24.
DNA
Where men pimp for their daughters, sisters
Every evening, the roads along Bharatpur district in Rajasthan are lit by lanterns and flashlights held by sex workers trying to attract customers. The girls are accompanied by their brothers or fathers who haggle with truck drivers to fix a price for the sex workers, who are often between 13 and 15 years.
While many of us may recoil in disgust at the practice of family members pimping their underage relatives, the initiation of adolescent girls in the flesh trade by their own kin is an accepted norm in Bharatpur. Here, women are expected to sell their bodies to support their families in which the men have no other work but to find customers for their sisters and daughters.
The custom is now the subject of a documentary Trapped by Tradition, which is made by American television news channel CNN International. The 30-minute film follows actor-producer Anil Kapoor to a village in Bharatpur, where he examines how poverty, illiteracy and social pressures have contributed to the tradition of trafficking female children.
As the women share ghastly tales of exploitation and helplessness, Kapoor also lends a ear to the male members to understand why sexual exploitation of minor girls is sanctioned by society. “In today’s modern world, this practice is unacceptable.
We should do whatever we can to eradicate it completely,” said Kapoor, who has been involved in campaigns against human trafficking for the past several years with Plan India, an organisation working to protect children against abuse and exploitation.
“It was clear that we must change the mindset of the people. They had to understand there are other options,” he added. Kapoor has now noticed a growing awareness in the community, something that was missing two years ago when he last visited Bharatpur. A little girl told him she wants to study and become an actress. Kapoor believes that through education people will learn about lifestyle choices outside Bharatpur and India’s sex trade.
The documentary will be premiered on CNN International on September 24.
September 11, 2011
7.9.11
Hindustan Times
Sexual harassment to be a non-bailable offence
Acting on the recommendations of one-man justice CS Dharmadhikari committee, the state government will soon make sexual harassment a non-bailable offence. Other recommendations made by justice Dharmadhikari include setting up of a separate space for such victims in the police station, increasing police vigilance in vulnerable areas, and separate fast-track courts for trying such cases.
To make it a non-bailable offence, the state will have to make amendments in the section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), following which if convicted, the offender might end up spending entire lifetime in jail.
Converting a June 21 HT report — on the molestation of a woman in a local train — into a public interest litigation, the Bombay high court had on June 25 suggested that the state government make molestation a non-bailable offence.
The government has set a three-month deadline to review and assess these recommendations put forth in a report tabled by justice Dharmadhikari, which will be finalised and tabled in the winter session of the assembly.
A meeting of senior officials of the home department, women and child department, and law and judiciary department was held on Monday to deliberate on the recommendations of the Dharmadhikari committee and see which of these can be implemented.
“The decision to make the offence non-bailable is under the consideration and the law and judiciary department is assessing the legal aspects. We have to make sure there is no scope of misuse,” said Medha Gadgil, principal secretary, home department.
A controversial recommendation — banning all sites that show provocative material — cannot be implemented due to weak cyber laws and the vast nature of the internet medium, a senior government official said.
Hindustan Times
Sexual harassment to be a non-bailable offence
Acting on the recommendations of one-man justice CS Dharmadhikari committee, the state government will soon make sexual harassment a non-bailable offence. Other recommendations made by justice Dharmadhikari include setting up of a separate space for such victims in the police station, increasing police vigilance in vulnerable areas, and separate fast-track courts for trying such cases.
To make it a non-bailable offence, the state will have to make amendments in the section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), following which if convicted, the offender might end up spending entire lifetime in jail.
Converting a June 21 HT report — on the molestation of a woman in a local train — into a public interest litigation, the Bombay high court had on June 25 suggested that the state government make molestation a non-bailable offence.
The government has set a three-month deadline to review and assess these recommendations put forth in a report tabled by justice Dharmadhikari, which will be finalised and tabled in the winter session of the assembly.
A meeting of senior officials of the home department, women and child department, and law and judiciary department was held on Monday to deliberate on the recommendations of the Dharmadhikari committee and see which of these can be implemented.
“The decision to make the offence non-bailable is under the consideration and the law and judiciary department is assessing the legal aspects. We have to make sure there is no scope of misuse,” said Medha Gadgil, principal secretary, home department.
A controversial recommendation — banning all sites that show provocative material — cannot be implemented due to weak cyber laws and the vast nature of the internet medium, a senior government official said.
September 3, 2011
26.8.11
Hindustan Times
Shift Kavdas, Kalyani cases to Mumbai: HC
In a move that might provide speedier justice to victims of child abuse in the Kavdas and Kalyani orphanages, in Thane and New Panvel respectively, the Bombay high court has ruled that the accused in these cases be tried in Mumbai.
The HC on Thursday transferred the shocking
cases of physical and sexual abuse of minor inmates of these two homes to the Mumbai sessions court, to ensure speedy trials.
The division bench also directed the Mumbai sessions court to record evidence in both cases using video conference.
Additional government pleader Vinay Sompal submitted that recording evidence through the audio-visual medium was necessary, as the victims were minors and were mentally challenged. He said the physical presence of the accused may hamper their testimony.
Advocate PD Dalvi, representing Surekha Karanjule, an accused in New Panvel case, took strong objection to the pleas. He contended that the cases could not be transferred to Mumbai, as the investigation was not yet complete in New Panvel case.
He also pointed out a provision of section 276 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which requires recording of evidence in presence of accused persons.
The judges however said, "We see no impediment in directing recording of evidence on audio-video electronic medium."
The court was hearing a suo motu proceeding taken up last year after newspaper reports revealed sexual abuse, physical harassment and ill treatment of inmates at the two orphanages.
30.8.11
Deccan Herald
97 students allege sexual abuse by school headmaster
As many as 97 girl students studying in government high school at Podhumbu have alleged sexual abuse by their headmaster Arokiasamy, 54.
• The Child Welfare Committee’s (CWC) report, a copy of which is available with Deccan Chronicle, submitted before the Madurai bench of Madras high court has listed the very many shockingly perverted acts of the headmaster against the little children.
• Madurai rural police, which registered a case in mid-July after the parents took to the streets, is yet to arrest the accused headmaster.
• Considering the gravity of the large-scale crime against children, the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) has taken it up while human rights organisation like People’s Watch whose executive director Henri Tiphagne is the special representative of RTE in Tamil Nadu of The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights is yet to respond.
• After visiting the village and interacting with the child victims, CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat said, “Right to Education also includes right to safe environment for girl children in schools. But a hostile environment prevails there.”
• The CWC too in its nine-page report has vindicated it. “We were shocked to hear all the 97 students narrating the sexual abuses of the headmaster during our interaction with them. The student-teacher relationship is not good in the school. The children say that many teachers are showing their hatred towards them after the incident came to light. Some of them feel that the teachers should be transferred,” the report says.
• The headmaster, according to it, has mostly sexually exploited the children of single parents and those from weaker and marginalized sections. CWC has recommended immediate legal action against the headmaster and transfer of a few teachers who refuse to handle the children with sensitivity and an office assistant.
• Its other recommendations include counselling, protection and compensation for the victims of child abuse, departmental action against those teachers who have ignored the perverted acts of the headmaster against the children, appointment of a headmistress among others.
• It has also pointed out the corporal punishment prevailing in the school, lack of toilet facilities for the students and recommended basic amenities and a compound wall. The teachers should be advised against intimidating the students about the incident.
27.8.11
Times Crest edition
My beta's got a beard
It's not just girls who are hitting puberty early. As the age of maturity declines in boys, eight-year-olds are reporting pubic hair and sudden erections.
Asha Bhatt was giving her six-year-old son Shaurya a bath when she noticed a few strands of armpit hair and the light fuzz on his upper lip. The homemaker whose 10-year-old son, Shivam, still had baby smooth skin, was surprised, but brushed it aside. A few months later, she started receiving complaints that Shaurya was bullying his classmates who, to Bhatt's amazement, were much shorter than him. But it was only when Shaurya returned from school one afternoon, flung his bag on a chair and screamed "Mamma" in a deep, hoarse voice, instead of the childish sing-song one, that Bhatt became convinced something was up with her little one and consulted a doctor.
Medical tests revealed that Shaurya had attained puberty early. "The age of his bones was four years older than his actual age, " says Bhatt. Shaurya was put on a monthly medication that slowed his development and the signs of maturity started fading. Shaurya, now 10, is like any other boy in his class and will soon complete the treatment. "He looks and talks like my baby again, " says Bhatt, a Shahdara resident. "But I will never forget the past four years. My husband and I were so worried, but we did not discuss the matter with anyone. It was too embarrasing. "
The Bhatts are not alone. A growing number of parents are dealing with the shock of seeing their little boys grow up too fast. According to experts, some boys are now hitting puberty at the age of 8 or 9 instead of the average 12. While this is considered 'early puberty', if the development of sexual characteristics starts before the age of 9 in boys and 8 in girls, it is called 'abnormally early or precocious' puberty. Dr IPS Kochar, a paediatric endocrinologist in Delhi, treats at least three to four boys for early puberty and one for precocious puberty every month. "Five years ago, I would see just either no boy or just one boy per month, " he says. Dr Vaman Khadilkar, a paediatric endocrinologist in Pune, treats one or two cases of early male puberty every month.
The doctors say the actual number would be higher as the condition is difficult to spot in boys. In girls, of course, breast development and menarche are clear signs. One key indication of premature puberty in boys is enlargement of the testes, but only a trained person can notice this.
While it is well documented that these days girls start menstruating earlier than theirs mothers did - a majority of girls in urban India get their first period at the age of 10 or 11 compared to the past average of 13 - a study published this month has confirmed that the age of puberty in boys has declined too. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock, Germany, studied demographic data from five European countries and found that the age of sexual maturity in boys has been decreasing by 2. 5 months every decade since 1700s.
The onset of puberty is characterised by a growthspurt, pubic hair, acne and mature body odour. Boys also tend to get more aggressive and temperamental when puberty sets in. And, while some like Shaurya may start avoiding girls, the testosterone rush makes others flock to the opposite sex. Kochar treated one Class IV student who wanted to hang out only with the girls in his class. At a family wedding, this boy would keep trying to chat up the young girls around, so the parents of one girl complained to his family. "He was 8 but behaving like a 15-year-old because he was in an advanced stage of puberty, " says Kochar, who is attached to Apollo Hospital at Sarita Vihar.
In majority of cases, early puberty is 'idiopathic' or without any cause. This means the two glands in the brain - the pea-sized pituitary gland and the hypothalamus - which control hormones that trigger puberty are simply working too soon. They start releasing luteinissing hormone (LH) and folliclestimulating hormone (FSH) which lead to development of secondary sexual characteristics. However, in boys premature development could sometimes be caused by a tumour in the brain or due to disorders of the adrenal gland - it produces testosterone - so doctors first rule that out.
If there is no underlying condition, most boys do not require treatment. However, some need therapy to ensure the early development does not stunt their growth. Usually growth in height stops when puberty ends. Early puberty makes the child's bones start growing rapidly and the process stops at an earlier age than normal, so he does not achieve his full genetic height potential. If untreated, most boys with early puberty don't grow taller than 5 feet 2 inches, and girls don't grow taller than five feet, according to estimates. That's why doctors recommend an X-ray to determine the patient's bone age. "If the child's bone age is more than two years older than his real age, it means his skeleton is mature and this child is likely to remain short. So, we start treatment to prevent this, " says Khadilkar. He adds that the child is given monthly hormone injections till the correct age of puberty to suppress the release of LH and FSH. This slows down or halts further maturity and the child is able to grow taller.
Children suffering from premature puberty are also counselled as the sudden changes in their body cause a lot of stress and self-consciousness. Their beards and voices breaking often make them the butt of jokes in school, say doctors. Parents are, therefore, advised to boost their child's self esteem so the experience does not leave him scarred.
Sexologist Dr Prakash Kothari believes the declining age of puberty has made it even more important for schools to impart sex education. "The youth is getting sexually charged much earlier but there is no sexuality education in schools so they are unable to cope with the changes and channelise their impulses, " he says. "This could further increase the incidence of unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and sexual crime. "
The medical community has not yet been able to ascertain the reason for the growing incidence of early puberty, but there are many theories. While some speculate that improved nutrition triggers the body to release hormones earlier, others blame environmental factors for the trend. "Buffaloes are given hormone injections to increase milk production and there is widespread spraying of chemicals on plants. These substances enter our bodies through milk and food and disturb our endocrine system, " explains Dr Kochar. While the link between hormone and chemical-laced foods and early puberty has not been proved yet, several studies have confirmed that obese children are more likely to suffer early puberty. So, the expanding waistlines of children in Indian metros could make premature puberty even more common, warn doctors.
It is also believed that exposure to sexual stimuli, through movies and advertisements, may have contributed to the speedy development of children. "Sex is everywhere around us these days. This increases sexual desires and triggers release of hormones that cause early puberty, " says Kothari.
(Some names changed on request)
1.9.11
Times of India
Are kids curious about sex ? Shh… its private...
MUMBAI: An increasing number of city doctors are reporting cases of pre-pubertal girls-especially those in the six- to 11-year age group-abusing themselves either on purpose or unwittingly by inserting objects into their vagina. When Anika Kapoor (8, name changed) complained of vaginal itching and a burning sensation "down there", her mother assumed it was a natural physiological problem. But in the course of a week, Anika's condition worsened and her vaginal area began emitting a foul-smelling white discharge. A visit to a gynaecologist at Kohinoor Hospital in Kurla turned the Kapoors' world upside down.
"We did an external examination and found that her hymen was not completely intact, and there were slight aberrations," said Dr Anjali Talwalkar. "A sonography revealed the presence of a foreign body in her vagina." It was a wad of paper. Initially doctors suspected abuse, but through a series of counselling sessions, they realized that she had inserted the paper into her vagina.
Anika's behaviour is not as unusual as her parents believe it to be; other doctors, too have encountered and treated such cases.
Is it sexual curiosity, the lack of communication with their parents or a reaction to sexual abuse that cause pre-pubertal girls to abuse themselves?
Most doctors put it down to curiosity, which is a natural part of growing up. Children are prone to touching themselves, and parents have to learn to deal with this behaviour in a manner that does not scare the child, say psychiatrists. According to Dr Anjali Talwalkar who treated Anika, the girl denied that she had been abused. "When I asked the mother if she was aware of any incident where her daughter had been abused, she replied in the negative. She denied being a victim of any untoward behaviour," Talwalkar said.
It was not possible to do a vaginal examination, which is done with the finger, as the vagina of girls Anika's age is very small. "We had to put the child under anaesthesia and conducted a vaginal exploration. We used a small instrument to retract the vagina and remove the foreign body," she added. During her follow-up visits, doctors tried to ask her about how the rolled up piece of paper entered her vagina. "It was during these sessions that Anika said she had put the piece of paper on the underside of her panty and that it may have entered when she pulled up the garment," said the doctor, adding that on further probing, she turned defensive and hostile.
Dr Y S Nandanwar, head of gynaecology at Sion Hospital, says that his unit performs foreign body removal surgeries in pre-teens twice a year. "We have received cases where we have had to remove small pieces of soap or a hairpin. It's hard to determine if it's accidental or intentional," he said, adding that sexuality starts from day one of a child's birth, though the child is not conscious about this. "Children may not understand what they are doing, but they may have seen or heard about."
Often, parents are uncomfortable discussing this topic. One parent at a US-based health and sex education website said that she had walked into her seven-year-old daughter's room to find her on the floor "naked from waist down" playing with her dolls. "I asked her what she was doing and she started crying. I believe she was exploring her genitalia with her dolls. I told her that it was normal, that she should only use her hands to explore and that using another object might injure her. She was quite upset and didn't want to talk about it any further," wrote the mother on the forum.
Dr Rekha Daver, head of gynaecology at JJ Hospital, said: "We occasionally get preteen girls with foul-smelling vaginal discharge. In such a case, we always find the presence of foreign bodies like small pebbles or a marble. Such a condition could have happened unintentionally while the child was playing". Dr Nikhil Datar, gynaecologist from Cooper Hospital says such cases are very rare: "It can be compared to a child putting a peanut up the nose. It's a lack of sex education that prompts such situations."
3.9.11
Times of India
UNICEF gets 'Meena' to protect girl child
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With an alarming increase in child abuse cases in the state, mostly girls for domestic and commercial sexual exploitation, the UNICEF is set to launch 'Meena' a unique animated communication initiative for girl child protection in Kerala, in coordination with the state government.
"UNICEF has found this initiative exceedingly successful in other states and now plans to take it forward in KeralaWe have written to the state government about the strategy to protect the children through awareness creation and on strengthening the rescue efforts," UNICEF programme officer on child protection told TNN here on Friday. "Over the next two months, this unique initiative will be implemented in Kerala, she said. This communication campaign focusing on key issues relating to the protection of the girl child through animated stories from an image of an empowered girl child Meena.
It is a good way to create awareness on the ticklish issues among children", she says. Through story books and DVDs the campaign will be launched across the state to create awareness by holding discussions among children in a lighter vein rather than making it scary, the official said. Meena based story books are also available in Malayalam and that will be made available in the state.
A Jayakumar, social development activities in the state mission said this UNICEF communication initiative Meena, based on the consultations with the state government, will be launched through cultural and personality development programmes like interactive sessions, puppetry shows, screening animation films and reading story books for children through Balasabhas across the state. Childline Trivandrum coordinator Fr Phillip Parakkat says, the awareness campaign to protect children should be supported by strong government and social interventions to prevent the abuse and rescue of the affected children. Sexual abuse of children in Kerala is rampant both at the commercial level through trafficking of girls and at home by the protectors themselves who include their parents, siblings, friends and neighbours, he says.
"Despite being a highly literate state, Kerala is loosing its value systems with its transition from a joint family setting to a nuclear consumerist family orientation. Now family relationships are getting strained in a fast paced competitive environment, resulting in lack of quality time for the family," he says.
The unrestrained use of mobile phones, online and visual media with all kinds of pornographic materials also adds to the erosion of values. The emotional support system in the family is missing and children who are vulnerable easily fall prey, he said. Many economically poor families force the children for child labour and begging who end up as victims of all forms of abuse and torture.
While reminding of one harrowing call received from among the thousands of calls received by Childline at its toll free number 1098 from children in distress, Phillip Parakkat says, "It's painful to see a 16-year old girl who had pleaded for rescue from forced begging on streets by her parents, later changed her mind to go by her relatives wish only to find herself as a victim of sexual abuse. It was shocking to see that now the same girl who has a child wanted to sell her little one on the streets." Of the over 1000 children rescued and shifted to the various stay homes across the state, around 300 children are victims of sexual abuse. According to the statistics available with the Kerala Police, 173 child rape cases were reported from among the 698 child abuse cases reported in the state till June this year. Last year, about 208 child rape cases were reported among a total 596 child abuse cases.
"These reports are indicative of the alarming trend of child sexual abuse in Kerala, but the truth is still harsh for many go unreported," says Kerala Mahila Samakhya Society (KMSS) director Dr Seema Bhaskar.
Hindustan Times
Shift Kavdas, Kalyani cases to Mumbai: HC
In a move that might provide speedier justice to victims of child abuse in the Kavdas and Kalyani orphanages, in Thane and New Panvel respectively, the Bombay high court has ruled that the accused in these cases be tried in Mumbai.
The HC on Thursday transferred the shocking
cases of physical and sexual abuse of minor inmates of these two homes to the Mumbai sessions court, to ensure speedy trials.
The division bench also directed the Mumbai sessions court to record evidence in both cases using video conference.
Additional government pleader Vinay Sompal submitted that recording evidence through the audio-visual medium was necessary, as the victims were minors and were mentally challenged. He said the physical presence of the accused may hamper their testimony.
Advocate PD Dalvi, representing Surekha Karanjule, an accused in New Panvel case, took strong objection to the pleas. He contended that the cases could not be transferred to Mumbai, as the investigation was not yet complete in New Panvel case.
He also pointed out a provision of section 276 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which requires recording of evidence in presence of accused persons.
The judges however said, "We see no impediment in directing recording of evidence on audio-video electronic medium."
The court was hearing a suo motu proceeding taken up last year after newspaper reports revealed sexual abuse, physical harassment and ill treatment of inmates at the two orphanages.
30.8.11
Deccan Herald
97 students allege sexual abuse by school headmaster
As many as 97 girl students studying in government high school at Podhumbu have alleged sexual abuse by their headmaster Arokiasamy, 54.
• The Child Welfare Committee’s (CWC) report, a copy of which is available with Deccan Chronicle, submitted before the Madurai bench of Madras high court has listed the very many shockingly perverted acts of the headmaster against the little children.
• Madurai rural police, which registered a case in mid-July after the parents took to the streets, is yet to arrest the accused headmaster.
• Considering the gravity of the large-scale crime against children, the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) has taken it up while human rights organisation like People’s Watch whose executive director Henri Tiphagne is the special representative of RTE in Tamil Nadu of The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights is yet to respond.
• After visiting the village and interacting with the child victims, CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat said, “Right to Education also includes right to safe environment for girl children in schools. But a hostile environment prevails there.”
• The CWC too in its nine-page report has vindicated it. “We were shocked to hear all the 97 students narrating the sexual abuses of the headmaster during our interaction with them. The student-teacher relationship is not good in the school. The children say that many teachers are showing their hatred towards them after the incident came to light. Some of them feel that the teachers should be transferred,” the report says.
• The headmaster, according to it, has mostly sexually exploited the children of single parents and those from weaker and marginalized sections. CWC has recommended immediate legal action against the headmaster and transfer of a few teachers who refuse to handle the children with sensitivity and an office assistant.
• Its other recommendations include counselling, protection and compensation for the victims of child abuse, departmental action against those teachers who have ignored the perverted acts of the headmaster against the children, appointment of a headmistress among others.
• It has also pointed out the corporal punishment prevailing in the school, lack of toilet facilities for the students and recommended basic amenities and a compound wall. The teachers should be advised against intimidating the students about the incident.
27.8.11
Times Crest edition
My beta's got a beard
It's not just girls who are hitting puberty early. As the age of maturity declines in boys, eight-year-olds are reporting pubic hair and sudden erections.
Asha Bhatt was giving her six-year-old son Shaurya a bath when she noticed a few strands of armpit hair and the light fuzz on his upper lip. The homemaker whose 10-year-old son, Shivam, still had baby smooth skin, was surprised, but brushed it aside. A few months later, she started receiving complaints that Shaurya was bullying his classmates who, to Bhatt's amazement, were much shorter than him. But it was only when Shaurya returned from school one afternoon, flung his bag on a chair and screamed "Mamma" in a deep, hoarse voice, instead of the childish sing-song one, that Bhatt became convinced something was up with her little one and consulted a doctor.
Medical tests revealed that Shaurya had attained puberty early. "The age of his bones was four years older than his actual age, " says Bhatt. Shaurya was put on a monthly medication that slowed his development and the signs of maturity started fading. Shaurya, now 10, is like any other boy in his class and will soon complete the treatment. "He looks and talks like my baby again, " says Bhatt, a Shahdara resident. "But I will never forget the past four years. My husband and I were so worried, but we did not discuss the matter with anyone. It was too embarrasing. "
The Bhatts are not alone. A growing number of parents are dealing with the shock of seeing their little boys grow up too fast. According to experts, some boys are now hitting puberty at the age of 8 or 9 instead of the average 12. While this is considered 'early puberty', if the development of sexual characteristics starts before the age of 9 in boys and 8 in girls, it is called 'abnormally early or precocious' puberty. Dr IPS Kochar, a paediatric endocrinologist in Delhi, treats at least three to four boys for early puberty and one for precocious puberty every month. "Five years ago, I would see just either no boy or just one boy per month, " he says. Dr Vaman Khadilkar, a paediatric endocrinologist in Pune, treats one or two cases of early male puberty every month.
The doctors say the actual number would be higher as the condition is difficult to spot in boys. In girls, of course, breast development and menarche are clear signs. One key indication of premature puberty in boys is enlargement of the testes, but only a trained person can notice this.
While it is well documented that these days girls start menstruating earlier than theirs mothers did - a majority of girls in urban India get their first period at the age of 10 or 11 compared to the past average of 13 - a study published this month has confirmed that the age of puberty in boys has declined too. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock, Germany, studied demographic data from five European countries and found that the age of sexual maturity in boys has been decreasing by 2. 5 months every decade since 1700s.
The onset of puberty is characterised by a growthspurt, pubic hair, acne and mature body odour. Boys also tend to get more aggressive and temperamental when puberty sets in. And, while some like Shaurya may start avoiding girls, the testosterone rush makes others flock to the opposite sex. Kochar treated one Class IV student who wanted to hang out only with the girls in his class. At a family wedding, this boy would keep trying to chat up the young girls around, so the parents of one girl complained to his family. "He was 8 but behaving like a 15-year-old because he was in an advanced stage of puberty, " says Kochar, who is attached to Apollo Hospital at Sarita Vihar.
In majority of cases, early puberty is 'idiopathic' or without any cause. This means the two glands in the brain - the pea-sized pituitary gland and the hypothalamus - which control hormones that trigger puberty are simply working too soon. They start releasing luteinissing hormone (LH) and folliclestimulating hormone (FSH) which lead to development of secondary sexual characteristics. However, in boys premature development could sometimes be caused by a tumour in the brain or due to disorders of the adrenal gland - it produces testosterone - so doctors first rule that out.
If there is no underlying condition, most boys do not require treatment. However, some need therapy to ensure the early development does not stunt their growth. Usually growth in height stops when puberty ends. Early puberty makes the child's bones start growing rapidly and the process stops at an earlier age than normal, so he does not achieve his full genetic height potential. If untreated, most boys with early puberty don't grow taller than 5 feet 2 inches, and girls don't grow taller than five feet, according to estimates. That's why doctors recommend an X-ray to determine the patient's bone age. "If the child's bone age is more than two years older than his real age, it means his skeleton is mature and this child is likely to remain short. So, we start treatment to prevent this, " says Khadilkar. He adds that the child is given monthly hormone injections till the correct age of puberty to suppress the release of LH and FSH. This slows down or halts further maturity and the child is able to grow taller.
Children suffering from premature puberty are also counselled as the sudden changes in their body cause a lot of stress and self-consciousness. Their beards and voices breaking often make them the butt of jokes in school, say doctors. Parents are, therefore, advised to boost their child's self esteem so the experience does not leave him scarred.
Sexologist Dr Prakash Kothari believes the declining age of puberty has made it even more important for schools to impart sex education. "The youth is getting sexually charged much earlier but there is no sexuality education in schools so they are unable to cope with the changes and channelise their impulses, " he says. "This could further increase the incidence of unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and sexual crime. "
The medical community has not yet been able to ascertain the reason for the growing incidence of early puberty, but there are many theories. While some speculate that improved nutrition triggers the body to release hormones earlier, others blame environmental factors for the trend. "Buffaloes are given hormone injections to increase milk production and there is widespread spraying of chemicals on plants. These substances enter our bodies through milk and food and disturb our endocrine system, " explains Dr Kochar. While the link between hormone and chemical-laced foods and early puberty has not been proved yet, several studies have confirmed that obese children are more likely to suffer early puberty. So, the expanding waistlines of children in Indian metros could make premature puberty even more common, warn doctors.
It is also believed that exposure to sexual stimuli, through movies and advertisements, may have contributed to the speedy development of children. "Sex is everywhere around us these days. This increases sexual desires and triggers release of hormones that cause early puberty, " says Kothari.
(Some names changed on request)
1.9.11
Times of India
Are kids curious about sex ? Shh… its private...
MUMBAI: An increasing number of city doctors are reporting cases of pre-pubertal girls-especially those in the six- to 11-year age group-abusing themselves either on purpose or unwittingly by inserting objects into their vagina. When Anika Kapoor (8, name changed) complained of vaginal itching and a burning sensation "down there", her mother assumed it was a natural physiological problem. But in the course of a week, Anika's condition worsened and her vaginal area began emitting a foul-smelling white discharge. A visit to a gynaecologist at Kohinoor Hospital in Kurla turned the Kapoors' world upside down.
"We did an external examination and found that her hymen was not completely intact, and there were slight aberrations," said Dr Anjali Talwalkar. "A sonography revealed the presence of a foreign body in her vagina." It was a wad of paper. Initially doctors suspected abuse, but through a series of counselling sessions, they realized that she had inserted the paper into her vagina.
Anika's behaviour is not as unusual as her parents believe it to be; other doctors, too have encountered and treated such cases.
Is it sexual curiosity, the lack of communication with their parents or a reaction to sexual abuse that cause pre-pubertal girls to abuse themselves?
Most doctors put it down to curiosity, which is a natural part of growing up. Children are prone to touching themselves, and parents have to learn to deal with this behaviour in a manner that does not scare the child, say psychiatrists. According to Dr Anjali Talwalkar who treated Anika, the girl denied that she had been abused. "When I asked the mother if she was aware of any incident where her daughter had been abused, she replied in the negative. She denied being a victim of any untoward behaviour," Talwalkar said.
It was not possible to do a vaginal examination, which is done with the finger, as the vagina of girls Anika's age is very small. "We had to put the child under anaesthesia and conducted a vaginal exploration. We used a small instrument to retract the vagina and remove the foreign body," she added. During her follow-up visits, doctors tried to ask her about how the rolled up piece of paper entered her vagina. "It was during these sessions that Anika said she had put the piece of paper on the underside of her panty and that it may have entered when she pulled up the garment," said the doctor, adding that on further probing, she turned defensive and hostile.
Dr Y S Nandanwar, head of gynaecology at Sion Hospital, says that his unit performs foreign body removal surgeries in pre-teens twice a year. "We have received cases where we have had to remove small pieces of soap or a hairpin. It's hard to determine if it's accidental or intentional," he said, adding that sexuality starts from day one of a child's birth, though the child is not conscious about this. "Children may not understand what they are doing, but they may have seen or heard about."
Often, parents are uncomfortable discussing this topic. One parent at a US-based health and sex education website said that she had walked into her seven-year-old daughter's room to find her on the floor "naked from waist down" playing with her dolls. "I asked her what she was doing and she started crying. I believe she was exploring her genitalia with her dolls. I told her that it was normal, that she should only use her hands to explore and that using another object might injure her. She was quite upset and didn't want to talk about it any further," wrote the mother on the forum.
Dr Rekha Daver, head of gynaecology at JJ Hospital, said: "We occasionally get preteen girls with foul-smelling vaginal discharge. In such a case, we always find the presence of foreign bodies like small pebbles or a marble. Such a condition could have happened unintentionally while the child was playing". Dr Nikhil Datar, gynaecologist from Cooper Hospital says such cases are very rare: "It can be compared to a child putting a peanut up the nose. It's a lack of sex education that prompts such situations."
3.9.11
Times of India
UNICEF gets 'Meena' to protect girl child
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With an alarming increase in child abuse cases in the state, mostly girls for domestic and commercial sexual exploitation, the UNICEF is set to launch 'Meena' a unique animated communication initiative for girl child protection in Kerala, in coordination with the state government.
"UNICEF has found this initiative exceedingly successful in other states and now plans to take it forward in KeralaWe have written to the state government about the strategy to protect the children through awareness creation and on strengthening the rescue efforts," UNICEF programme officer on child protection told TNN here on Friday. "Over the next two months, this unique initiative will be implemented in Kerala, she said. This communication campaign focusing on key issues relating to the protection of the girl child through animated stories from an image of an empowered girl child Meena.
It is a good way to create awareness on the ticklish issues among children", she says. Through story books and DVDs the campaign will be launched across the state to create awareness by holding discussions among children in a lighter vein rather than making it scary, the official said. Meena based story books are also available in Malayalam and that will be made available in the state.
A Jayakumar, social development activities in the state mission said this UNICEF communication initiative Meena, based on the consultations with the state government, will be launched through cultural and personality development programmes like interactive sessions, puppetry shows, screening animation films and reading story books for children through Balasabhas across the state. Childline Trivandrum coordinator Fr Phillip Parakkat says, the awareness campaign to protect children should be supported by strong government and social interventions to prevent the abuse and rescue of the affected children. Sexual abuse of children in Kerala is rampant both at the commercial level through trafficking of girls and at home by the protectors themselves who include their parents, siblings, friends and neighbours, he says.
"Despite being a highly literate state, Kerala is loosing its value systems with its transition from a joint family setting to a nuclear consumerist family orientation. Now family relationships are getting strained in a fast paced competitive environment, resulting in lack of quality time for the family," he says.
The unrestrained use of mobile phones, online and visual media with all kinds of pornographic materials also adds to the erosion of values. The emotional support system in the family is missing and children who are vulnerable easily fall prey, he said. Many economically poor families force the children for child labour and begging who end up as victims of all forms of abuse and torture.
While reminding of one harrowing call received from among the thousands of calls received by Childline at its toll free number 1098 from children in distress, Phillip Parakkat says, "It's painful to see a 16-year old girl who had pleaded for rescue from forced begging on streets by her parents, later changed her mind to go by her relatives wish only to find herself as a victim of sexual abuse. It was shocking to see that now the same girl who has a child wanted to sell her little one on the streets." Of the over 1000 children rescued and shifted to the various stay homes across the state, around 300 children are victims of sexual abuse. According to the statistics available with the Kerala Police, 173 child rape cases were reported from among the 698 child abuse cases reported in the state till June this year. Last year, about 208 child rape cases were reported among a total 596 child abuse cases.
"These reports are indicative of the alarming trend of child sexual abuse in Kerala, but the truth is still harsh for many go unreported," says Kerala Mahila Samakhya Society (KMSS) director Dr Seema Bhaskar.
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