Reshma Banu, mother of three-month-old baby Neha Afreen who was allegedly beaten to death by her father recently, was a victim of domestic violence and the Karnataka Women’s Commission has written to all government departments seeking financial support for her, said commission Chairman C. Manjula said.
Addressing the Global Walk for India’s Missing Girls at Coles park here on Saturday, she said the husband harassed Ms Banu for a long time. “She should have lodged a complaint with any agency. Her silence led to all the problems,” she said. The commission should have judicial powers to conduct investigations and punish the guilty in cases related to violence against women and girl children, she said. “Recently, a private hospital in Shimoga threw female foetuses into a dustbin. Our officials visited the spot and ordered for an inquiry, but we could not punish the culprits. We have to depend on other agencies for punitive action,” she said.
The state government is planning to form district-level committees, which will be headed by deputy commissioners, to dispose of cases related to women and children. Activist Dona Fernandes said doctors should be blamed for increasing number of sex determination and female foeticide cases. “Though the state government has banned pre-natal sex determination tests, they are being carried out secretly, even in the so-called five-star hospitals,” she said.
“In Mandya district, from where our external affairs minister S.M. Krishna is hails, tens of hospitals conduct sex determination tests. There are specific clinics for the purpose. In some villages of the district, the sex ratio has gone down to 500 females per 1,000 males,” she said.
She alleged that doctors are responsible for the high prevalence rate. “Even if officers initiate action, doctors approach politicians and escape from the law,” she said. Hundreds of people participated in the walkathon organised from Fraser Town Mosque to Coles Park. Tens of hearing impaired students and wheelchair-bound activists took part in the rally.