Stories of Change— Child Rights
Emerging as Warrior
Photo Credit: railwaychildren.org.in
Neha’s world turned upside down one night, when her biological father in a drunken stupor raped her. She was only 12 years of age when this ordeal robbed her of her childhood and a series of abuse that followed left a huge scar on her both physically and mentally. Too young to make sense of her situation and no one to confide in she slipped into a frenzied state of mind. This manifested as dissociation, physical agitation, refusing to engage in conversations with her peers at school, and skipping mid-day meals. She dreaded the thought of going back home from school because, at home, she would be subjected to the same horrors.
Neha's class teacher discerned her situation and, after discussing it with other teachers, raised this concern to her father, only to be dismissed. This dismissal aroused the teacher's suspicions about her father's behaviour. Acting on these concerns, the teacher reached out to ACRD's CHILDLINE branch in Boko in 2019 and informed them about Neha's situation. The CHILDLINE team swiftly responded to the complaint and successfully rescued Neha, which subsequently led to her father's arrest. Following her rescue, Neha was presented before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and she was transferred to Navajeevan Rehabilitation Home for Women and Girls in November 2019. During the mandatory medical examination, it was discovered that she was already past two months pregnant and could not possibly terminate her pregnancy.
She carried her pregnancy to full term and gave birth to a healthy baby boy at Navajeevan, who was then legally adopted by a family in Kolkata. ACRD’s team at Navajeevan took care of Priya and helped her cope with the pain and trauma of her situation. Insurmountable stress took over her after her delivery and, she began being aggressive towards the other residents at the rehabilitation home. Recognizing her patterns, the Navajeevan staff started engaging her in different mentally stimulating activities which distracted her from intrusive thoughts and memories related to trauma. Gradually she started showing improvements and was enrolled in a school nearby. She completed her high school leaving examination in 2023 securing second division and is now in Class 11. She is a bright young girl and dreams of becoming a professor someday. She loves to write poetry, dance and read books during her leisure hours.
Innocence Stolen: Usha's Journey from Trauma to Hope
A 13-year-old girl named Usha Das, from Manipur village in Morigaon district, encountered a horrifying ordeal that would change her world forever. On a hot summer day, Usha ventured out for amusement and stumbled upon the Jonbeel fair, a few kilometers from her house. Mesmerized by the colorful stalls, lively music, and the hustle and bustle of people around her, she lost track of time and direction. After wandering around for a while, she realized she did not remember her way back home. Panic-stricken, she sought help from a group of older boys, whose friendly demeanor offered her a glimmer of hope. They listened to her plight and offered to take her home. Relieved, she accepted, not knowing that horrors beyond her worst nightmares awaited her.
They ushered her into their car and drove off in the opposite direction. Feeling uneasy about the situation, Usha dared to question them. Instantly, their demeanor shifted, their once friendly faces, now contorting with hostility. Realizing their sinister intentions, she started pleading them for mercy but her cries fell into deaf ears. She was thrown into a room, where they subjected her to unspeakable acts of mistreatments and sexual assault.
They tormented her for two days and then callously abandoned her in an isolated area. Desperate to escape the trauma she had endured, she tore off her clothes, including her undergarments. Eventually she was noticed by a passerby, who took notice of her distress and escorted her to a nearby shop and contacted the authorities.
The authorities rescued her and arranged for a medical examination, following which she was sent to a shelter home. Her parents were traced, and she was reunited with her family. But the horrors persisted. Usha and her family were threatened relentlessly by the perpetrators’ associates, but the authorities remained steadfast in their commitment to her safety.
ACRD’s Access to Justice team of Kamrup Metro stepped in and she was provided refuge at a shelter home where she was placed under the care of dedicated professionals who now assist her with her psychological needs and legal issues.