A two-year-old girl, sexually assaulted by a ward boy of a primary health centre in Madhya Pradesh, has been awarded Rs.5 lakh compensation by the state government.
The girl was assaulted on March 15, 2013 in Shajapur district's Kanad town.
The money was given to the minor girl's parents after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) intervened in the matter.
Earlier, in response to the notices of the commission, the state government had held that the recommendation for payment of Rs.5 lakh as interim relief to the victim was not in accordance with the rules.
However, NHRC member Justice D. Murugesan (retd.), reiterating his recommendation to the state government, observed that the commission has special powers under the Protection of Human Rights Act to award appropriate relief, and was not bound by the state government rules for compensation in such cases. Therefore, it could not accept the justification that the relief amount did not comply with the rules.
During the course of enquiry, the NHRC had found that the allegation of sexual assault was correct. The victim had come to the Primary Health Centre along with her mother and was assaulted there.
A criminal case was registered at Kanad police station. The accused was arrested and a charge sheet filed in the court.