Team Herald
MARGAO: Bailancho Ekvott President (BE) Auda Viegas on Thursday accused the Children Welfare Committee (CWC) of exceeding their powers under the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 and violating a Supreme Court order, which had directed that a baby cannot be separated from the mother.
Viegas was referring to a case where she alleged that the right of a woman to breastfeed her baby had been grossly violated by the authorities concerned.
“The baby is two-and-a-half-months old and has been forced to stay away from mother’s milk and it is clear abuse of the right of the baby to the mother’s milk. This has caused discomfort and pain to the mother as she is forced to stop nursing,” said Viegas.
She further added that the mother has been confined illegally in a shelter home without informing her of the reason and thereby wrongfully curtailing her from her freedom.
“When the Act intends for child friendly approach, here they have acted in contravention by separating the mother and child as well as the ruling of the Supreme Court. The child’s best interest has not been taken into consideration,” said Viegas.
“CWC is making use of the police for embarrassing and affecting the dignity of the victims of sexual assault or commercial sexual activity when they visit the home of the victim on the directions of CWC. There is a clear breach of confidentiality. The victims are treated as criminals,” Viegas added.
