Minor trafficking victim undergoes abortion

The minor trafficking victim, who went missing from an NGO-run home and returned five months later in a pregnant condition, underwent the abortion process. As per the law, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) formed a medical  board, which deemed the minor fit for medical termination of pregnancy. Sheila Charles Mohan, member of the CWC, said, “The minor is doing fine and she has been bold so far. After she has recovered sufficiently, the minor will be counselled to go to school. 

Since she has so far not shown much inclination towards education, we are also trying to give her vocational training.” Coming down hard on the Madras Christian Council of Social Service (MCCSS), the home where the minor was housed for almost a year before she went missing, Sheila pointed out that the institution’s carelessness led to these unfortunate events. 

“The child was sent to the home on Ujjawala scheme, under which trafficking victims are rehabilitated. The CB-CID personnel were regularly visiting the home to meet the child, as she was already a victim of trafficking.

Moreover, When the minor was sent to a tailoring course outside the premises, we were not informed about it. One of the major reasons behind the child going missing is the careless attitude of the home,” she said. Another source who has been closely involved in the case pointed out that it was a collective failure. 

“Right from the home to the CB-CID to the CWC and Department of Social Defence, nobody took an initiative to secure the child’s life. It was a collective failure on the state’s part to protect a minor,” said the source.