A social activist has accused the administration of Chamoli district of adopting insensitive and callous approach while dealing with a mentally challenged young woman. This woman, according to Shashi Bhushan Maithani, appears pregnant probably due to sexual exploitation by anti social elements and could be found sourcing food from waste bins while roaming in the Gouchar municipal area.

Maithani released his telephonic conversation with District Magistrate (DM) of Chamoli, Vinod Kumar Suman to prove his charge. He claimed that when he offered help for the woman, the district administration sat up an inquiry on him. Maithani further claimed that facial features of this woman suggest that she could be one of an unfortunate survivor of Kedarnath disaster of 2013. “On hearing about this recluse young female, I contacted Chairman of Nagar Panchayat Gochar, Mukesh Negi who confirmed her presence. After that I contacted the DM of Chamoli and requested help of administration as the issue was serious. But no heed was paid,’’ he said. The social activist said that he approached secretary state commission Manindri Mandarwal and she readily offered shelter to the woman. After that Maithani wrote a letter to DM on March 21 that since a social organization ‘ Apna Ghar’ is offering shelter to the woman, he (Maithani) is ready to transfer her to the shelter home. The activist requested administration to provide one female and one male constable for safe transfer of the woman.  Maithani later called the DM on phone when to his surprise the DM said that if some leader or some unknown person takes the woman away then he has no problem but if you are giving me it in writing then I will get your credentials checked first. Maithani said that after it he sent his address proof and identity card to the administration. He said that the SDM, Karanprayag has completed the inquiry (he ran an audio tape in which the SDM is confirming that he has completed the inquiry) but the district administration is yet to take any action on the request. Maithani said that he has sent a mail to the state Chief Minister and apprised him of the situation but nothing happened. He said that it would have been better had the administration taken the woman in its safety and sent her to Nari Niketan but instead of doing it the administration is concentrating on inquiry of those offering help.

When contacted by the Pioneer the DM Chamoli, Vinod Kumar Suman said that the woman is at present not in Chamoli district. “It is learnt that she keeps on moving between Srinagar, Gauchar and Karanprayag. Further on what basis it is being claimed that she is pregnantIJ We are trying to trace the woman and when it is done we will get her medically examined and then she will be handed over to Nari Niketan. We will not handover her to a private agency,’’ he said.