PGI lacks centre to ensure privacy of children

Chandigarh, August 23 

The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) lacks a one-stop crises centre to maintain the privacy of the children subjected to sexual abuse. 

The issue came to light a day after the 14-year-old  rape victim, who is over eight-month pregnant, was made to shuttle from one room to another for medical check-up. 

Taking a serious note of the lapse, Harjinder Kaur, Chairperson, Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said a notice was issued to set-up the centre  at the hospital to treat minor patients.  Sources said the private room in which the rape victim was kept had been booked in the name of the  child rights commission. 

The rape victim had faced a harrowing time yesterday while she was being taken to the PGI for a medical check-up in a police vehicle.

Sources said the apathy came to light when Harjinder Kaur reached the Children’s Home and reportedly raised objections over the child being taken to the hospital in a police vehicle.

She had demanded that the rape victim should be ferried to the hospital in an ambulance. Following this, the girl was later taken to the hospital in an ambulance. However, the girl was later admitted to the hospital for delivery. — TNS