Investigation into sexual abuse of child by school staff begins

New Delhi, July 25 (UNI) The investigation into the complaint of a ten-year-old child being sexually abused by staffers of a Delhi school began today.

Taking cognizance of the complaint filed by the child's father Rajan Budhiraja about three officials of the private school sodomising his son resulting in the child becoming physically and mentally sick, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury had ordered an inquiry into the complaint.

The Committee, headed by Dr Lavleen Kacker, Joint Secretary in the Ministry, held its preliminary meeting this morning and later visited the school and the family of the victim. It would submit its report in two weeks.

Giving details of the incident, Ms Chowdhury said the incident occurred one year ago and after police did not act on the complaint of the parents, they met her.

''I asked the state government about the incident but I also cannot abdicate my responsibility. We all have to come together and do something if a thing like this happens. The incident indicate the system's failure as the parents were running from piller to the post for justice,'' Ms Chowdhury told reporters.

The other members of the committee include Ms Bharti Ali of NGO 'HAQ' for Child Rights, Ms Deepa Dixit, member of the National Commission for Child Rights and Ms Kalyani Chadha, Director in the ministry who is also the convenor of the Committee.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has already taken a number of steps for welfare of children, including setting up an Integrated Child Protection Act, setting up the Child Rights Commission and even amended the Juvenile Justice Act. Moreover, steps are being taken to streamline the Adoption Act to make it more transparent and even launching the cradle scheme to save the 'unwanted' girl children from being killed.

UNI