Haryana sees spurt in child pregnancy cases

Box: No abortion due to late reporting

In POCSO cases, 54 pregnancies were reported in Haryana last year and 37 in the first five months this year

The child rights panel says most cases are usually detected late, making it difficult to carry out abortion

Chandigarh, August 6

A 17-year-old mentally challenged girl, Monu (name changed), had to deliver a child born out of rape by a neighbour. Even as the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Faridabad pursued the case for abortion, crucial time was lost.

In cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which defines a person below 18 years as a child, 54 pregnancies (more than four per month) were reported in Haryana last year. The Haryana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (HSCPCR) collected this data from CWCs at the district level. Fifteen cases were reported from Gurugram, followed by five each from Palwal and Sonepat.

In the first five months this year, 37 cases were reported, which is more than seven per month. The maximum cases came from Panipat (5), followed by Faridabad (4). There are victims as young as 12 or 13. Only in 21 cases, the termination was carried out this year, either by the court order or by the CWC concerned.

Jyoti Bainda, Chairperson, HSCPCR, said, “Most of the victims are poor migrants. The pregnancies are usually detected late. The victims remain in fear if the abuser is from their family. Sometimes delay happens at the level of the CWC or medical board.”

The state is yet to set up medical boards for implementing the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, under which the pregnancy can be aborted up to 24 weeks instead of 20.

Upasana Sachdeva, a Gurugram CWC member, said, “The cases of child pregnancies are on the rise. Such victims hardly know the difference between good touch and bad touch. They require multiple counselling sessions and follow-ups for mental wellbeing.”