City doctors say government's proposal is premature and fraught with risks

Children nowadays have an early entry into adult world. But does that mean it is okay to allow 12-year-olds to indulge in non-penetrative sex? What kind of an impact would it have on childhood? And the society as a whole? Will it increase child abuse? And will children become more vulnerable?



MiD DAY spoke to doctors in the Capital and tried to get answers about what they think of the proposal that was drafted in the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Bill 2010 and sent to the states by the Ministry of Women and Childu00a0 Development. According to the proposal, 12-year-old children may soon be legally permitted to have non- penetrative sex with children their age.

Though the ministry is confident about the proposal, city doctors are annoyed and amused. They feel that the ministry's step is wrong as a 12-year-old child istoo young to be aware about such issues. They don't even know the proper meaning of sex at that age.

"In Western countries, there is a lot of awareness about such things, but in India even the family hesitates talking to their children about such issues. There are people who may not be aware about these terminologies.
Younger women will become vulnerable if this is passed by the ministry," said Dr Tripat Chaudhary, gynaecologist, Fortis La Femme. Also according to doctors, crime against women will increase as criminals
will get a license for their immoral acts.

"Making it legal is something that will offend parents and the society as a whole. Criminals will now have an excuse and will easily be able to escape for their unlawful action," said Dr Ajay Pal Singh, psychologist, Max Healthcare.

"What is the government trying to do with this decision? It will create a lot of confusion. People who indulge in rape do not differentiate between penetrative and non-penetrative sex," said a senior gynaecologist
at AIIMS, requesting anonymity. The question is, has the ministry thought these out?

The union health and family welfare ministry on Wednesday terminated the practising licence of a doctor of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) accused of sexually abusing a minor boy last month, an official said. AIIMS spokesperson Y.K. Gupta confirmed that action has been taken against the accused junior resident doctor. "His Masters of Chirurgical (degree) registration has been cancelled and his practising licence has been terminated," a senior member of the institute's Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) told reporters here. Police Monday registered a case against the junior resident doctor, Shrijoy P. Joshua. On January 24 the boy's father had submitted a complaint that his son had been sexually abused by the doctor a day before. The complaint said the doctor took the child to the doctors' duty room and abused him sexually. Upon receiving the formal complaint, AIIMS constituted a three-member committee to look into the allegation.