Rehab hope for blind rape survivor

NEW DELHI: The National Association for the Blind will steer the rehabilitation of the 20-year-old visually impaired woman who was allegedy raped by her neighbour at her house in a slum in central Delhi earlier this month. On Thursday, the woman’s uncle allegedly committed suicide at a park near their house as he was upset and depressed after the incident.
The survivor will be provided counselling and rehabilitation that would involve steering her towards some kind of vocational training to enable her to become financially independent.
The State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, TD Dhariyal, on Saturday wrote to DCW chief Swati Maliwal, secretary social welfare and to the National Association for the Blind, emphasising the need to coordinate so as to ensure counselling and rehabilitation opportunities to the woman and support to her mother.
Speaking to TOI, Shalini Khanna from the National Association for the Blind said that this case is a reminder of the severe challenges girls and women with visual impairment face.
“We get so many cases where girls are sexually harassed by people in their families and others around them because of their disability. At least one such complaint comes every week. These girls face issues like confinement and sexual violence. The problem is deeper and linked to society and its perception which needs to change. We need to work to secure these girls and ensure greater attention to build awareness to ensure safety for them in their homes, neighbourhoods and workspaces,” Khanna said.