Maneka Gandhi seeks immediate action in child abuse case

New Delhi: Three months after no action taken against foster parents who were accused of sexually abusing an adopted girl child, Union Women and Child Development Minister, Maneka Gandhi has written to the Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal asking for immediate action in the case.

"Under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, the POCSO Act as well as the IPC, the foster parents, members of the child welfare committee and the officers of the district child protection unit, who have handled this case, are criminally liable," she said in the letter addressed to Sonowal.

In May 2018, a 13-year-old girl living in a child care institute Nivedita Nari Sangstha (NNS) was given to foster parents in Silchar, Assam. However, during the follow-up visit of the NNS officials, the girl complained of not being comfortable with her foster parents, Gandhi said.

After three months, the child was surrendered in the child care institution. When medical examination on the girl was conducted, it was found that she was sexually abused over a period of three months by the male parent.

Following it, the child care institute had lodged a police complaint in September but no action has been taken so far, Gandhi said in a letter to Sonowal.

The WCD Minister urged Sonowal to ensure that necessary action is taken against the persons responsible for the sexual abuse of the child and they are brought to justice.

"In the WCD Ministry, we follow the principle of zero-tolerance to cases of child abuse and expect strictest possible action against the perpetrators," she added.