The incident of a toddler girl being brutally abused in the Child Welfare Committee is numbing the human conscience. The accused should get maximum punishment for the crime. Those who abuse children do not deserve any kind of forgiveness. Such incidents take place when those who do not receive special training are entrusted to look after the children. Toddlers are seen as forms of innocence. They can do nothing but cry and laugh. Ayahs should not be appointed on a contractual basis to take care of children of that age. Those who become ayahs in the state child welfare committee are appointed through political influence. This is what needs to be stopped first. A two-and-a-half-year-old girl was injured in her private parts for urinating on the bed. Three ayahs who were found guilty in the incident have been arrested. All three are temporary employees.

During the investigation, it was found that the child's private part was injured by an ayah named Ajitha. The investigation also revealed that two others, Sindhu and Maheshwari, had injured several parts of the child's body. A case has been registered against the accused under the POCSO Act and juvenile justice sections. The child, who lost her father and mother and was orphaned, was brought to the child welfare committee 10 days ago. Although there have been instances of child beatings in the committee in the past, it must be assumed that they have been covered up without the knowledge of the outside world. The ayah named Maheshwari was earlier transferred out of the district in connection with an incident of assaulting children. She came back with political influence. Those who assault children should not be transferred but dismissed. What kind of child welfare are the ones responsible conducting if they cannot even do that?

In foreign countries and elsewhere, the most skilled and trained people are employed in such centres. Here, anyone with a hold on the ruling parties can enter there. Even if there are complaints, the governing body is often only adept at settling them. At the same time, it is also not correct to portray that all ayahs in the committee are the same. The majority of people look after their children as well as they can. Ayahs are daily wage earners. It is those who have good political support who show bad behaviour on that strength. No serious disciplinary action is taken against them. The current case was registered because the incident came to light. The person accused of misbehaving with children has also become a member of the governing body. It would only be surprising if such brutal incidents were not repeated when such people rule.

It is said that there is severe dissatisfaction among the employees in the Child Welfare Committee following the revised and adjusted working hours. The reason for the dissatisfaction was the reduction in wages when the working hours were reduced from 24 hours to nine hours. Everyone arranges their lives from within the wages they are getting. If that wage falls one fine morning, naturally there will be dissatisfaction. This anger will be shown towards the inmates. The biggest problem is the inability of the governing body to foresee and arrange such things. An incident has been reported now. The serious shortcomings there cannot be settled just by taking certain steps and throwing dust in the eyes of the people. A detailed investigation and study needs to be conducted at the government level and a solution has to be sought. Otherwise, the higher courts can intervene on their own and make changes. In any case, a cleansing is required.