NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress member Derek O’Brien on Wednesday stunned Rajya Sabha by revealing a personal trauma — in which he was a victim of child abuse — to drive home the point that “silence” is the biggest crime.

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Rajya Sabha MPs were offering suggestions for the safety of women and children when Derek said: “I was molested in a bus when I was 11 years old… When I was travelling back in short pants and somebody at the back did something to me, and I had sperm on my shorts. I was too scared, (despite) coming from a progressive family, to go and tell my parents that. This is the crime, the tragic crime of silence.”

In the stunned silence, he continued: “So, if we really want to make change, we need to look at this right at the bottom of the pyramid. We need to get the message out that if someone in the urban situation is hurt in a bus, if she screams, everyone needs to feel strong enough to come and support her.”

It’s not easy for any victim of child abuse to talk of their experience, perhaps more so for someone in public life. Derek’s courage to speak up for those more vulnerable than himself will inspire others to seek justice.

The well known quizmaster’s remarks came while participating in a discussion on the women and child development ministry. Derek pointed out that the condition of women in rural India is far worse and appealed to the government to address the issue in a comprehensive manner while adopting good practices followed in various states at the national level.

He gave the example of Bengal’s ‘Kanyashree’ scheme, which has “helped empower lakhs of girls through financial assistance”. He advised the ministry to work closely with health and HRD ministries to curb female foeticide and sexual harassment of children and women.

Other members, too, participated in the discussion which was initiated by BSP member S C Mishra. They came up with suggestions like ensuring 30% representation of women in police force, flexible working hours for women and enhanced budgetary allocation for their welfare.

JD(U) member Pavan Kumar Varma said there is no realistic data on how the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) is being run and pitched for a social audit of it. When compared to the 2011 Census, ICDS covers only half the number of pregnant/lactating women and children below six years. It does not guarantee universal food and nutritional security to this particular category of people, he said.

Samajwadi Party member Jaya Bachchan suggested that the WCD ministry should always be headed by a man so that he realizes the pain and sufferings of women and children. She said her party was never against Women Reservation Bill but a false campaign was being launched against the party. She also demanded that eminent women leaders like Sarojini Naidu, Mahasweta Devi and Mahadevi Verma be considered for Bharat Ratna.

The House, earlier, faced two brief adjournments when the Opposition raised objection that there was no cabinet minister present to note down the points raised by members.

The debate resumed only after two Cabinet ministers — Sadananda Gowda and Thawar Chand Gehlot — came to the House. Most of the ministers, including WCD minister Maneka Gandhi, were in Lok Sabha where the voting on National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill and Constitution Amendment Bill was scheduled at that time.