‘We want to make her feel she is not alone’

Along with essential things,these school-going girls have not only brought the much required moral and social support that the teenaged mother needed,but have also sent a strong message to society as well; and it seems the message has been well received too.

Seeing the young students coming out to help without any bias or stigma,the girl’s neighbours and other residents followed suit. One of the victim’s neighbours has now taken up the responsibility to provide medicines to the mother and the baby.

Overwhelmed by the love and support shown by the students,the mother asked them to name the baby. The baby was born on January 30. But the mother,who lives with her father and grandmother,was yet to name her.

“They have named her Anjali. I can’t explain in words how good I felt to see those girls coming to my place with all the things. I have suddenly found so many friends at times when I was feeling so lonely,” said the young mother.

Her family did not come to know about her horrific experience until she was found to be five-month pregnant. In September,when the family came to know about the rape by the two neighbours,a complaint was lodged and the duo was arrested and lodged in jail.

The girls who came out to help her are students of Shri Vidhyarthi Parivar (SVP),a group that runs free tuition classes. By imparting free education,the group aims to cultivate values of social service among students from a very young age.

When the SVP came to know about the teenaged mother,it decided to offer help in whatever way possible. It was decided to provide moral support with the help of the students who are of the age of the victim.

“The difficult part was to explain the situation of a rape victim to young girls of age 12 to 14 years. The more difficult part was to convince their families to let these students visit the young mother,” said Hitesh Karia,coordinator of SVP.

The girls were successful in convincing their families,who warm heartedly gave the girls the things the mother and the baby required immediately – milk,fruits,cereals,medicines,clothes,toiletries and toys. “We want to make her feel that she is not alone. We all are there for her. We would also want the accused to get a harsh punishment,” said Jivti Barot,a student.