WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR A CHILD'S LIFE?

Currently in between a case of a 14 year old orphan girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted repeatedly by a donor of an orphanage while the founder of the orphanage and her brother are abettors in the crime. As per the child's version the lady managing the orphanage had send her to this man(in the same building where the orphange is located) who drugged her and sexually assaulted her. This seems to have happened multiple times.  

The information came out when the child was sent back to her relatives during the Covid lockdown (as per Govt orders all Child Care Institutions were directed to send back children to any safe relative) on March 21st, 2020.

For 4 months she lived with her uncle whom she apparently had informed about the abuse. For reasons best known to the child & the family, the child was physically beaten up continuously by her uncles during the stay. Reliable information also points out that the uncle tried to leave the girl back to the same orphanage at least on three occasion but the home refused to take back the child citing Covid.

 

After four months the uncle decided to send the child to another aunt on July 28th, 2020. Seeing the physical condition of the child (she could hardly walk) the aunt was concerned and when she probed, the child once again described her plight.Alarmed by the information, the aunt rushed to the police and booked a case against the perpetrators on 29th July, 2020. 

While the police  did take the case promptly and the sexual assault was booked and the arrests were made but interestingly the abuse that had happened during the 4 months with the uncles was completely ignored.

Interacting with the legally competent bodies who dealt with the case,I have come to understand that the girl could hardly walk when she was taken to the police station or to other places. She was visibly sick, appeared severely malnourished and had deep fresh bruises all over her body mainly on her thighs.

The aunt deposed before Child Welfare Committee that she is unable to take responsibility so  finally the child was admitted in the Government Home. The officials in the home, seeing the dire health conditions of the child admitted her to the Government Nilofer Hospital for children after completing all the legal formalities including 

recording her statement and medical examination. 

Simultaneously another case was booked against the uncles on the intervention of CWC.

The child's condition after she was admitted in the hospital worsened inspite of all the care & attention. Multiple complications including a clot in the brain, septicimia,urinary infection etc. 

  

Right now the girl is battling for life with less than 1% chances of recovery, she is on ventilator support and her condition is critical. 

I am shattered...how have we so miserably failed our children? For many of us this will be another story...to feel sad...maybe get outraged...rave & rant about what is going wrong and move on....

But a life is on its way out...just 14years old....in that brief period she has experienced rejection, indignity, violation and betrayal...rape & physical abuse...you name it...she has experienced it.   

I am flooded and challenged with multiple questions...

-Who is accountable for this child's life?

-Should safe homes/orphanages/child care institution allow donors/visitors to have direct contact with the child?

-What are the non-intrusive means to monitor and track all safe homes/institutions?

-Should the licensing authorities also be taken to task for issuing registration/licensing for organisations who have questionable protocols?

-What is the fate of children whose family & institution are unsafe?

-How can we ensure that our children get at the minimum a safe place to live?

As I wait for the final updates of the child...a deep vacuum engulfs me....