THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Things happen at the Nirbhaya Home in the capital, the first such home for sexually abused girls in the country, with the kind of blood-curdling suddenness seen in a horror flick. Last day, one of the oldest teenagers in the home clambered up a huge tree and threatened suicide. As other frightened girls screamed for help and authorities begged her to come down, a loud shriek was heard from inside the Home. A 14-year-old had swallowed a shard of glass.
A day before, a 13-year-old did not return from school. The entire city was combed, but there was no sign of the girl. Finally, at the insistence of Nirbhaya authorities, the police once again searched the school and the girl was found crouching inside one of the dirty toilets, trembling with fear. The girl is under treatment for metal instability. “The girls in the home are deeply disturbed, most have mood disorders, some are pregnant, and there is a girl with cancer,” a top Social Justice Department source said.
But the Home has only a part-time psychologist. “These girls should be talked out of their trauma. A clinical psychologist should visit the home at least twice a week,” the source said. The congestion inside the home (which has two buildings) has aggravated the trauma of the victims. Both the buildings can squeeze in 50 girls but the number has swelled to 77. There are no basic facilities either; no beds, no cupboards, no desks, no television, not enough toilets either. “It is only natural for an emotionally scarred girl to get frequently irritated in such a stifling atmosphere,” said Dr Jacob Pulickan, a psychiatrist.
To make matters worse, there is virtually no one to look after the girls. Where at least four caretakers are a must, there is just one. “Each inmate has to be given preferential treatment and therefore it is impossible for one person to take care of all the girls,” Dr Pulickan said. The caretaker, for instance, will not only have to give medicines to these girls but should also ensure that she takes it. And that’s not enough. The caretaker also has to be careful to keep the medicines out of the reach of the inmates. Many of these victims have suicidal tendencies; at least seven suicide attempts have taken place in the home and one had died
