Chandigarh-based NGO Suryansh Foundation extends help to Kapurthala rape survivor’s family

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 10

Chandigarh-based NGO Suryansh Foundation has come forward to the aid of Kapurthala-based rape victim. The foundation, after receiving the information about the plight of the girl’s family, has decided to extend a help of Rs4,000 per month to her, for six months.

The seven-year-old rape victim, daughter of a migrant labourer, got raped on March 15, at a shanty near RCF Kapurthala by her father’s acquaintance on the pretext of getting her biscuits. Critically injured, the girl has been undergoing treatment at the PGI Chandigarh for the past many months. The Kapurthala police, Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Navtej Singh Cheema and the state government had extended help to the family. The Punjab Legal Services Authority (PLSA) had also released an interim relief of Rs 2 lakh to the father of the girl.

The Suryansh Noble Foundation, which works under the aegis of the Suryansh Charitable Society, has been extending a monetary help of Rs 4,000 per month to the family. The members of the foundation today visited the girl’s family at Kapurthala to donate six cheques for the upcoming six months so that the family does not face any financial trouble.

Dinesh Kumar Sharma, Director, Suryansh Noble Foundation along with President Anshu Jain today visited the family. Sharma, while talking to The Tribune, said, “We had read about the family’s plight and visited them at Chandigarh. We will be extending a help of Rs 4,000 per month to the family as long as the girl’s father does not find any steady job. He is currently at home and doesn’t have much work as he is looking after his daughter. Our purpose is to just ensure that the family has enough to make ends meet and carry forth the treatment of the little girl.”

A daily wager, the girl’s father along with her mother, had been tending to her at PGI Chandigarh for the past many months. Discharged from PGI Chandigarh in May, the girl was shifted to Civil Hospital, Kapurthala, from where the family came back to their rented accommodation at RCF Kapurthala.

The girl’s father said, “I am thankful to the state government and PLSA for the help which has been extended to me so far. Members of the foundation also came to our room at RCF today and donated six cheques to me. They had earlier also deposited some money into my account. I’m thankful to them. We have been asked to come back to PGI Chandigarh after three months for another surgery. Currently, she passes urine only with the help of a bag. After surgery, we are hopeful of her recovery.”

While the girl’s father is a daily wager labour, he says he takes up some job every month but is not able to work as much as earlier because he also has to take care of his daughter. After the rape, the 7-year-old’s uterus had to be removed and a colostomy was also conducted. Post several surgeries, her condition got improved. Another surgery will be conducted after three months.