Delhi Women’s Commission
Expansion
The Delhi Women’s Commission has taken a tough stand on the delay in getting MLC tests done for victims of sexual violence in government hospitals in the capital. The commission has written a letter to the Delhi government recommending speeding up the investigation. Also, the Health Department has been asked to submit an action taken report in the matter within 30 days.
According to NCRB’s Crime in India Report 2022, Delhi is the most unsafe metropolitan city. About six rape incidents are happening daily in the capital. On the other hand, one stop centers set up in government hospitals to help the victims are not working properly. Commission’s chairperson Swati Maliwal has recommended in this regard. Earlier, a notice was issued to the Delhi government in the same matter.
Serious deficiencies were identified in this process. It was observed that other hospitals including Guru Gobind Singh, Swami Dayanand and Hedgewar do not have one stop centres. The commission has recommended that one stop center should be set up in each hospital immediately.
got it cause
Investigation revealed that the UPT test in Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital is not being done inside the One Stop Center but in a separate floor or wing of the hospital. While Kalavati Hospital does not stock UPT test kits. As a result the victim is forced to go to Lady Hardinge Hospital (which is a kilometer away) for UPT test and then back to Kalavati for MLC.
treatment without delay
The commission has recommended that victims should be allowed to approach the One Stop Center directly without waiting in the emergency room. The One Stop Center should have toilets along with drinking water to reduce the delay in UPT tests. Rape victims should be treated by gynecologists without any delay. Senior staff seal the sample inside the OSC during the MLC process and instruct the doctors to expedite the process of documentation.
Victims of sexual assault have to face very difficult situations because of these processes. It will not be accepted at all that they have to wait for more than six hours to get their MLC done. Overall recommendations have been made to the government in this regard.
– Swati Maliwal, Chairperson, Delhi Women’s Commission
There is delay in these five places
- in the emergency room
- While doing UPT test of the victim
- while waiting for the gynecologist
- while sealing the samples
- during the documentation process
