Help, hope, legal aid pour in for blind rape survivor

NEWDELHI: Hope and help poured in for a 20-year-old blind rape survivor on Friday, a day after her “traumatised” uncle committed suicide outside their shanty in central Delhi’s Karol Bagh.

The Delhi Police, the Delhi Commission for Women and an association for the blind are at the forefront of those came forward to offer legal aid, employment, counselling and compensation to the survivor and her mother.

Since the girl’s uncle was the only earning member of the family, his suicide has left the fatherless rape survivor and her mother staring at a bleak future. The suicide has also left the mother-daughter duo hopeless, forcing them to even contemplating the withdrawal of the rape case.

The woman was dragged into a neighbouring shanty and allegedly raped by an e-rickshaw driver on May 4 while her mother was out to fetch water.

Delhi Police commissioner Amulya Patnaik saidan Ngoand especially sexual assault, for their psycho-social and economic rehabilitation.

“We are exploring employment opportunities that is acceptable for the survivor and her mother. We will also look to move them to a safer location,” said Patnaik.

MS Randhawa, deputy commissioner of police (central), said the police had reached out to the Delhi State Legal Services Authority for speeding up compensation payout to the survivor.

The police said they had got the survivor’s eyes examined at Lady Hardinge Hospital. “Doctors said there is severe damage to her eyes. She can feel the difference between night and day, but nothing more,” said the DCP.

The Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal met the survivor on Thursday and convinced the girl to “continue to fight the case”.

Maliwal spoke to Shalini Khanna, director of National Association for the Blind (NAB) India Centre for Blind Women.