'Isolated incident, there is only a small scratch caused by fingernail'; Child Welfare Committee General Secretary responds to media

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Arun Gopi, General Secretary of the Child Welfare Committee, described the incident of caretakers injuring a 2.5-year-old girl's private parts as an isolated incident. Arun Gopi told the media that the injury on the child's genitalia was just a small scratch caused by a fingernail, and that action would be taken against the caretakers responsible for the incident.

"This is an isolated incident. However, our stand is that it should not have happened. That is why we took action against the caretakers. We have never had such incidents before. The three caregivers who are accused are temporary employees. We have a large number of temporary staff here," Arun Gopi said.

"We hired them on a contract basis as we couldn't find people to take care of the children. If a child is hospitalized, two caretakers must be present to take care of the child. We are facing huge financial constraints and liabilities to run this institution. This institution is functioning with the help and support of many people," he said.

"The child is healthy now. There is only a small scratch caused by the fingernail. We took action immediately after the incident came to our attention. Seven people were suspended, and from that, the police arrested three people. After this governing body took over, special training was provided to everyone regarding the care of children," he added.

The caretakers inflicted injury on the child for urinating on the bed. Three caretakers have been booked under the POCSO Act in connection with the incident. The arrested persons are Ajitha, Maheshwari, and Sindhu.