The festival of Christmas and New Year in these hills seem to have ironically unleashed a string of abuses on helpless young girls who are being raped or gang-raped, almost every day. It seems that a systematic plan is being worked out by some perverts to pounce on unsuspecting young girls and to then blame the way they dress or the time at which they were out partying or returning home. It is evident that the male perverts have stalked their prey and overpowered them at a vulnerable place. But along with the string of rape cases what also come to the fore is the lack of preparedness of health care givers in dealing with victims of rape who come to them for help. There are enough laws which state that the primary responsibility of any health care centre/hospital is to examine the rape victim and give immediate care and to also reduce the trauma she suffers. But, that rape victims are being turned down on the plea that rape is a police case reflects the apathy of our health care institutions, especially the private nursing homes which have turned mercenary.
Also the much vaunted, “One Stop Crisis Centre,” at Civil Hospital lacks the staff strength required to deal with the rising number of crimes against women. This Centre lacks the required resources both human and financial just like the other Commissions created for protection of women and children. It is learnt that the State Women’s Commission functions on a shoe string budget compared to their counterparts in Assam and Tripura. The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) has been performing a commendable job by filing necessary FIRs against the violators under various sections of the Protection of Child Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. These Commissions set up to protect the rights of abused women and children ought to be able to function as per their mandate. By starving them of funds the State Government is doing a great disservice. Government’s claim to do its best for its womenfolk is so much of lip service. Surely this issue should dominate the proceedings of the next elections considering that 50% of voters are women. Political parties across the board are expected to take this issue on their manifestos.
And now that perpetrators of rape have been arrested, amongst them a legislator, we await justice to be delivered as it ought to. No one should be spared because of legislative immunity.