Now, rescued sisters can realise their dreams

SHIMLA: The nightmarish experience of twin minor sisters from remote Kupwi area of Shimla district, who were made to work as child labour and subjected to physical abuse for almost an year is over and they have smile on their face after Umang Foundation, a Public Welfare Trust, rescued the girls and pledged full support to them.

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 23

The nightmarish experience of twin minor sisters from remote Kupwi area of Shimla district, who were made to work as child labour and subjected to physical abuse for almost an year is over and they have smile on their face after Umang Foundation, a Public Welfare Trust, rescued the girls and pledged full support to them.

After protracted struggle by the foundation for the rights of these hapless girls, they have been admitted to Portmore Girls Senior secondary School, Shimla, and their shattered dream to continue their education has been revived as they will stay in the hostel, leaving the bad memories behind.

The foundation took up the matter with the State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) which directed the Education Department to ensure their admission in the school and hostel facility. While the education is free for girls in government schools in Himachal, the entire expenditure of hostel, mess and other charges will be borne by the foundation.

It was in the month of February that the twin sisters, both 13-and-a-half years, were rescued and brought to the Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital in a critical condition after physical assault and abuse by the family where they were allegedly forced to work as slaves from 4 am to 11 pm.

Chairman of the foundation Ajai Srivastava said the physical and mental condition of the girls was bad and the financial condition of the family was awful. He said he produced the father of the girls before Atul Verma, ADGP (Law and Order), and after his intervention, the Sirmaur Police registered a case under the Child Labour Act and the POCSO Act and the accused were arrested.

But it was not the end of their fight for survival as the girls had to resume their studies, but the atmosphere of their native place was not conducive for academic pursuits. The foundation approached the Child Right Commission which issued directions to the Education Department to admit the girls in the school.

The cherished dream of one of the girl was to become a teacher while the other wanted to join the police. The Principal of Portmore Senior Secondary Girls School, Nisha Bhaluni said: “Keeping in view their background, we will extend some extra support to them. After all, they are like my own daughters.”

“We have adopted the minor sisters for the purpose of higher education and will extend all support to them to make their dreams come true,” Srivastava added.