Andhra Pradesh State Women's Commission Chairperson Nanapaneni Rajakumari on Wednesday underscored the need for installing CCTVs in all State-run and private children’s homes to avoid ‘unfortunate incidents’ like the one that occurred in a children’s home here last week.
Addressing the media after interacting with the victims, she said girls were increasingly feeling insecure be it in hostels and even at homes with unscrupulous men resorting to bad touch.
“We will ensure adequate compensation, education and justice for the girls who have been subjected to sexual abuse and stern action against the accused pastor,” she said as the hapless girls one after another poured out their woes at the State-run Bala Sadan here.
Registration of girls for admission to the children’s home concerned had been stopped, she said, adding that “we are examining the possibility of closing down the school run by it as well.” The girls would be ensured compensation under the Juvenile Justice Act and also the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act and admission into State-run schools of their choice to ensure them a bright future, she added.
‘Boys also vulnerable’
Ms. Rajakumari, who interacted with District Child Welfare Committee Chairperson Ch.Bharati and other officials who unearthed the sex scandal, said “we will step up surprise inspections on both private and State-run hostels. It is not that girls alone are vulnerable as instances of boys falling victims to sexual abuse had come to my notice.”
Ms. Rajakumari, who interacted with parents of some of the victims, said the children’s home in question had collected ₹3,000 each from the victims’ parents, many of them daily wagers, and also mobilised foreign funds on the pretext of educating the poor girls, most of them Dalits. A probe would be conducted above religious lines into the functioning of all such homes and steps taken to streamline their functioning, she said along with women’s commission member T. Ramadevi.
‘Malicious campaign’
Meanwhile, Ms. Rajakumari took a strong exception to a ‘malicious campaign’ linking the Kerala government’s stand in favour of removing restrictions on entry of women of particular age group into the Sabarimala temple to the flood fury.
