The 9-year-old's intestines were ruptured after she was raped multiple times.
For over two months, the parents of a nine-year-old rape survivor have trekked four kilometres to take her to the nearest government health care centre in Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district, unable to afford even a bicycle.
In July, the girl was lured out of her house by a local, taken to a riverside and raped multiple times, leading to her intestines being ruptured. Since then, her family ran from pillar to post to get her treated, from the primary health care centre to hospitals in Ranchi. Her condition is now stable but she needs a weekly visit to the primary health care centre to get her wounds dressed.
The Jharkhand High Court has stepped in now, bringing some hope for the family. On Friday, the court ordered an immediate payment of Rs 1 lakh to the family and will take up the case suo moto tomorrow. At the local level, the administration has promised a cycle, monetary help and even a job for the father, who works as a daily wager.
"We will give him employment under NREGA. We will also try and give them grain. We will give them land too under government schemes," said Mrityunjay Kumar, Block Development Officer of the area where the girl's family lives.
"She's already had 50 - 60 saline drips and also many injections. Doctors in Ranchi have confirmed that she can get better, but we have to bring her here for weekly check-ups. I bring her every week but we can hardly afford this," the girl's father recounts.
The man accused of the crime has been arrested and police says he is involved in another case of rape too. Jharkand saw 1050 rapes in 2014, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. Health ministry statistics show the state has a shortfall in both government health sub centres, closest to villages, and primary health care centres, which means that for many other poor families like this one, the ordeal for medical help is a very tough challenge.
To help the nine-year-old, you can contact NDTV's Haribansh Sharma at +91 9304193447 and haribansh.sharma@gmail.com