The Hindu : Union Minister meets rape victim, promises help

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2003

National

National

Union Minister meets rape victim, promises help

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI SEPT. 15. The Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, P.C. Thomas, today said there had been systemic failure at various levels in the case of the Malayalee nurse, who was raped and blinded in one eye by a ward boy at the Shanti Mukund Hospital here recently.

Talking to presspersons after meeting the victim at GTB Hospital, Mr. Thomas made out a case for her early rehabilitation. He was, in fact, the first Government representative to meet the victim, languishing in the hospital for over a week now.

After discussing her case with the Medical Superintendent of GTB Hospital, D.K. Srivastava, the Minister said all efforts — irrespective of the expenses involved — should be taken to restore vision in the eye, which had been gouged out by the assailant. Dr. Srivastava said her physical wounds had healed, but the need now was to address the trauma undergone by her.

Mr. Thomas said he would take up the case with the Delhi Health Minister, A.K. Walia. While he would seek the Delhi Government's assistance in helping her complete her education and find a job, he said he would also bring to Mr. Walia's notice the manner in which the nurse was shunted from one hospital to another.

The Union Minister said he had spoken to the Delhi Police Commissioner, particularly in the light of allegations of negligence by the hospitals and the efforts to hush up the case. Such apprehensions made the Central Minister speak about systemic failure. The victim had another visitor today in the member of the Kerala Commission for Women, Lissy Jose. In the capital on an official visit, Ms. Jose assured her assistance.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National