MP HC Proposes 'Shaurya Didi' Scheme Involving Female Officers Mentoring Vulnerable Children, Survivors Of Sexual Offences To Ensure Welfare

While hearing a habeas corpus plea, the Madhya Pradesh High Court raised a question about the welfare of child victims of sexual offences, children leaving home out of quarrels and children in need of care and protection.

To mentor, guide and encourage such children who come back home after undergoing mental and emotional trauma, the Division Bench of Justices Anand Pathak and Rajendra Kumar Vani has floated a scheme called 'Shaurya Didi'.

“…Shaurya Didi would be a female Sub-Inspector or Constable or she may be a fit person as per Juvenile Justice Act or may be a female staff of Women and Child Development Department living in the vicinity of child/victim. They can mentor, guide and encourage the victim to come into mainstream and to encourage her to engage in creative pursuits”, the bench sitting at Gwalior elucidated.

The court also clarified that this concept should be refurbished by policymakers to yield results and to change the lives of affected children. The court felt that 'Shaurya Didi' would have the potential to bring forth sexual offence victims, children in need of care & protection as well as children in conflict with the law to the mainstream of society if implemented effectively.

“…Concerned departments may think over framing Statutes/Rules/Guidelines in regard”, the division bench added.

The High Court made the above observations while allowing a girl child, who was abducted by certain persons, to go back with her parents. The court, while disposing of the habeas corpus plea as infructuous, felt the need to discuss and address the impact the harrowing incident might have on her psyche.

The court opined that children are 'hardly exposed' to the 'frailties of human nature' and require additional care and protection through affirmative actions to secure their future.

“On surface, things look normal, but underneath such incident leaves dejection, despondency and depression into the psyche of a girl… Most of the times, she suffers from mental and emotional trauma because of nature of incident…”, the court held.

The court also acknowledged the helplessness of parents in most of these situations, who are busy earning a livelihood, or too shocked to address the issue at hand. The court pointed out that such parents often shift this responsibility by marrying them off. Sometimes, they antagonize the children further, which in turn, has adverse effects.

“One more aspect that deserves attention is Stockholm Syndrome. In such mental situation, out of fear or anxiety or mental disposition, she falls in love with her own perpetrator or empathizes with him and surrenders herself to him…”, the court made a further analysis of the repercussions of neglecting such children.

Since many parents are ill-equipped to handle the situation as much as the child is, the court called upon the state machinery to address the matter through the 'Shaurya Didi' concept.

In the current case, as a pilot experiment, the court has appointed a female Police Constable from Mrigwas P.S in Guna District to mentor the girl child who would be returning home. The constable will visit the girl once a week and communicate with her through mobile phones.

The court has entrusted the Police Constable with the duty to guide, mentor and persuade the girl child in creative pursuits for the next 6 months. The court has asked the appointed police officer to submit a report after this duration of six months, detailing her experience as a 'Shaurya Didi' as well as the status of the girl child/corpus.

Case Title: Harchand Gurjar v. The State Of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.

Case No: Writ Petition No. 19837 of 2024

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (MP) 160

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