A year after CCTV camera footage of a 10-month-old girl being beaten up by the caretaker at a daycare centre in Kharghar went viral, spurring conversation about safety measures at such facilities, the child is still dealing with the trauma.
On November 21 last year, on her fist day at Purva Play School and Nursery, Kharghar, baby Ritisha Sinha was beaten up by caretaker Afsana Shaikh, for not going to sleep in the afternoon. The assault resulted in a skull fracture and internal brain injury.
Ruchita Sinha, Ritisha’s mother, said, “She has been a brave and courageous girl all the while, but is still afraid of unknown women. At times, she gets frightened at night and cries. And every time she is afraid, she vomits. We fear constantly that the injury might affect her in the future.”
Life for the Sinhas has not been the same since the attack. Her father, Rajat, an executive engineer in ONGC, said, “As parents, we feel quite insecure about leaving her out of our sight. The care and attention now given to Ritisha is like that given to a newborn.”
Ms. Sinha a deputy manager, HR, at a private firm in Chembur, resumed work three months ago, after her organisation allowed her flexible timings. “We have decided to not put her in any play school or daycare again, till she can express hers needs and problems well. As of now, my mother takes care of my child,” Ms. Sinha said.
The caretaker is in Byculla jail, while the owners of the daycare centre Priyanka and Pravin Nikam, are out on bail. The facility was shut down, and its location now houses a toy shop. The Sinhas have to pass by the place almost every day.
The family is now trying to get the trial fast-tracked. “We had filed the charge sheet in the case within three months, and now the case is with Alibag Sessions Court. The trials are yet to start,” senior police inspector Dilip Kale from Kharghar Police station said.
Last year, the caretaker’s son and a resident of their locality had told The Hindu about incidents of her alleged aggressive behaviour.
“A simple background check could have saved us from this trauma,” Ms. Sinha said. “I hope no other child ever goes through what my child had to face.”
