Uncle gets custody of girl abused by stepmom
Almost two months after a battered Kamini’s plight was brought to light by her principal, who spotted blood on her uniform, the girl finally gets a better life
By Yogesh Avasthi and Dhwani Pathak
Posted On Wednesday, May 13, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=2009051320090513034030611aeb14fbf)
Kamini, the 11-year-old girl, who was physically and mentally abused by her stepmother, is finally in her uncle Rahul Jain’s custody. The legal process for the girl’s custody concluded on April 29.Pained at the constant thrashing Kamini received at the hands of her stepmother Anita, Jain had told Ahmedabad Mirror that he would spare no efforts to get the girl’s custody (Kamini’s uncle seeks custody, AM, April 2).
Now that his wish is fulfilled, Jain said his first priority is to ensure Kamini gets over her past.Kamini’s story was flashed all over newspapers when she attended school with a wound in the back of her head. The school’s principal, Allon Reubens, saw blood on her uniform, and asked her about the injury. Kamini then revealed that her stepmother had hit her with a comb. The matter was reported to the police.
Kamini’s classmates and neighbours revealed her stepmom was straight out of hell, hitting the girl without any reason and making her do household chores. She was not allowed to eat more than one chapatti and would often be locked up in the house.
Jain had said he wanted to save the girl from “torment and abuse” by taking her custody. He told AM, “I had asked my brother, Virendra, several times to let me take care of Kamini. He even sent her to my home once, but took her back.” Jain has a four-year-old daughter and said he was lucky to “get a second daughter.” He told AM on Tuesday, “Kamini is a very lucky girl. She was a lively child before her life was turned into hell by Anita. But that’s a thing of past now. She loves playing with my daughter, and I have big dreams for her.”
The kind uncle admitted Kamini does miss her father, and her stepbrother. Turning down our request to have a word with Kamini, he said, “She’s recovering from years of trauma. Let her be. She does miss her dad, Virendra, and her stepbrother, with whom she is quite close.”To ease the transition for Kamini, Jain has ensured her father can visit her as much as he desires. “My door is always open for Virendra. He is my brother. Regarding Kamini’s stepmom visiting her, I don’t think that woman will ever want to do that,” he said.Jain’s lawyer Ashok Bhandari confirmed Kamini’s change of guardian has received legal consent. The order was passed by Metropolitan Court’s Justice K S Patel on April 29.
AM reported Kamini’s plight on April 2Jain was pained by the legal recourse. He said, “I can’t even think of moving court against my own brother. But I can’t let Kamini die. I had to do this.”Getting emotional while discussing Kamini’s future, he said, “She will enjoy all those things that were barred by her stepmom. Let her study till she wants to, let her eat whatever she desires... I am there for her at every step.”
By Yogesh Avasthi and Dhwani Pathak
Posted On Wednesday, May 13, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=2009051320090513034030611aeb14fbf)
Kamini, the 11-year-old girl, who was physically and mentally abused by her stepmother, is finally in her uncle Rahul Jain’s custody. The legal process for the girl’s custody concluded on April 29.Pained at the constant thrashing Kamini received at the hands of her stepmother Anita, Jain had told Ahmedabad Mirror that he would spare no efforts to get the girl’s custody (Kamini’s uncle seeks custody, AM, April 2).
Now that his wish is fulfilled, Jain said his first priority is to ensure Kamini gets over her past.Kamini’s story was flashed all over newspapers when she attended school with a wound in the back of her head. The school’s principal, Allon Reubens, saw blood on her uniform, and asked her about the injury. Kamini then revealed that her stepmother had hit her with a comb. The matter was reported to the police.
Kamini’s classmates and neighbours revealed her stepmom was straight out of hell, hitting the girl without any reason and making her do household chores. She was not allowed to eat more than one chapatti and would often be locked up in the house.
Jain had said he wanted to save the girl from “torment and abuse” by taking her custody. He told AM, “I had asked my brother, Virendra, several times to let me take care of Kamini. He even sent her to my home once, but took her back.” Jain has a four-year-old daughter and said he was lucky to “get a second daughter.” He told AM on Tuesday, “Kamini is a very lucky girl. She was a lively child before her life was turned into hell by Anita. But that’s a thing of past now. She loves playing with my daughter, and I have big dreams for her.”
The kind uncle admitted Kamini does miss her father, and her stepbrother. Turning down our request to have a word with Kamini, he said, “She’s recovering from years of trauma. Let her be. She does miss her dad, Virendra, and her stepbrother, with whom she is quite close.”To ease the transition for Kamini, Jain has ensured her father can visit her as much as he desires. “My door is always open for Virendra. He is my brother. Regarding Kamini’s stepmom visiting her, I don’t think that woman will ever want to do that,” he said.Jain’s lawyer Ashok Bhandari confirmed Kamini’s change of guardian has received legal consent. The order was passed by Metropolitan Court’s Justice K S Patel on April 29.
AM reported Kamini’s plight on April 2Jain was pained by the legal recourse. He said, “I can’t even think of moving court against my own brother. But I can’t let Kamini die. I had to do this.”Getting emotional while discussing Kamini’s future, he said, “She will enjoy all those things that were barred by her stepmom. Let her study till she wants to, let her eat whatever she desires... I am there for her at every step.”
