Child sex abuse survivors battle to heal scars

Shalini (name changed), the five-year-old daughter of a school-teacher mother and shopkeeper father, used to stay for around 45 minutes after returning from her school at the home of their neighbour, till her mother was back from work.

- Smita

One day, Shalini told her that uncle, an ex-army man, indulges in unnatural acts, and she felt uncomfortable about it. The 46-year-old personnel used to tell the child that this was a game which they would play every day. The parents approached the police, the man was arrested and sent to jail. But neither Shalini nor her parents have managed to overcome the trauma. Whenever she crosses the shop, which the man used to run, she gets terrified.