DCPCR reaches out to families of 13 rape survivors, provides essential commodities

NEW DELHI: Families of rape survivors, dependent on their daily earnings, have also been affected by the COVID19 lockdown as they ran short of their ration and money. The Delhi government and Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) have so far reached out to fami

lies of 13 rape survivors and provided them with essential commodities.

According to the child rights body, most of earning family members were daily wage labourers but lockdown had halted their earnings and

left them with no jobs. “They contacted our Smile Club members about their situation and later we were alerted about them by the members. With the help of the Delhi government and NGOS (Sahyog Care For You and Pehal), we have distributed them with essential commodities,” a DCPCR official said.

Smile Club was set up by the child rights body for helping minor rape survivors. It focuses on the “social and psychological mainstreaming” of these survivors. Even after the distribution of rations, families told the officials that there was no gas left in their cylinders. “You have given me ration but how we will cook when we have no gas cylinder?” one family asked the official.

During interaction with officials from DCPCR, families told them that they were already in trauma and now COVID-19 has broken them badly. Another family said that they are not in the position to think. They are losing their hope.

Jyoti Duhan Rathee, member DCPCR said, “I have assured them they will get all kind of help in this situation. We have told the families not to worry.”

These 13 rape survivors were part of the study which was conducted on 100 such survivors in Delhi.

The report was released in July 2019. The study found that families of 55 per cent child rape victims are poor with the monthly family the income of Rs 10,000 or less.

Analysis of data on the nature of livelihood challenges reveals job loss as a major challenge that has affected nearly half (49 per cent) of the total number of families that are facing the crisis.

‘I have assured them they will get all kind of help in this situation. We have told the families not to worry’