HC slams Maha govt for ignoring rape victims’ kids

‘MANODHAIRYA’

The Bombay high court on Thursday rapped the state for not making any special scheme for children who are born due to rape. The state seeks to offer succour and help to the survivors of rapes and acid attacks through its Manodhairya scheme but it makes no provision for children born due to rapes. The HC said a separate department to register such complaints should be formed to help the victims’ children and rehabilitation of victims should be a priority. The court has asked the principal secretary of women and child welfare ministry to remain present before the court on the next hearing.

A division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Anuja Prabudessai was hearing a petition filed by Jaleel Shaikh. Mr Shaikh sought directions from the court to the government to implement the Manodhairya scheme from retrospective effect and to award compensation to all those women who were survivors of rape and acid attacks prior to 2013.

After hearing the contentions of the petitioner, the bench observed that merely compensating rape survivors would not suffice, as the children born of rape were also victims. “Children of rape survivors should be treated as victims as well and the government should frame a policy so that they get a good education and facilities that will help them grow in a conducive atmosphere,” it said.

The court also suggested the government creates a separate department that would keep track of such children and maintain a register that would remain only with the department concerned so that the survivors and victims are compensated promptly.