Child Welfare: A Curse?

Today’s children are the fundamentals of our tomorrow. How fast does this statement hold, when these very children are subjected to abuse, mental and physical torture? How strong would are society be in the coming future, when its foundation has been trampled over? Child abuse and forced labour have become a daily routine. The recent incidents of child torture in Dwarka by a doctor couple; and of child abuse in Daryaganj in Arya Orphanage, leave a lot to be questioned.

It is unthinkable to think how the 13 yr old child, Munni was kept as a slave for nearly seven months by a doctor couple in Dwarka. The girl was found on March 29 locked up in the house of Dr Sanjay Verma and Dr Sunita Verma, ever since they went on holiday to Thailand on March 25. The tortures that she endured were even barbaric than medieval standards. She was just given two chapattis a day, and was made to slog like a slave. She was beaten by a wooden ruler and often dragged by her hair, as a means of punishment. After her rescue, she told the Child Welfare Committee the Vermas kept limited food for her while leaving and even put markings on the flour container. The ration only lasted for two days after which she went hungry.

The sexual assault on an 11 yr old girl in Arya Anathalaya near Jama Masjid by the guard of the orphanage brought out attention towards the disturbing thought that children are now not safe in institutions that work for the welfare of these very children. On 23 Dec 2011, the girl suffered with stomach pain and vomiting. Suspecting diarrhoea, she was admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital, but she died on 24 Dec. At first glance, her death seemed natural, however post-mortem report revealed that she had been raped and sexually assaulted. After this, the Jama Masjid police station registered a case and started investigation.