Alarming spurt in crimes against children
8 March 2016 9:53 PM GMT
The government, citing data released by the National Crime Records Bureau, said that 1,85,819 cases of crime against children were reported from 2012 to 2014.
About 38,172, 58,224 and 89,423 cases were registered under crime against children in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.
In 2014, the highest number of cases were reported from Madhya Pradesh at 15,085, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 14,835, Delhi at 9,350, Maharashtra 8,115 and West Bengal 4,909.
The total number of cases of crime against children in states in 2014 was 79,758 and 9,665 in Union Territories.
“The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which came into force on January 15, 2016, has provisions for punishment relating to offences against children, viz. punishment for cruelty to child, employment of child for begging, sale and procurement of children for any purpose, etc,” the Ministry of Women and Child Development recently informed the Rajya Sabha on a question regarding crime against children.
A National Study on ‘Child Abuse’, released by the Ministry, in collaboration with UNICEF, Save the Children and Prayas in 2007, offers startling figures.
About sexual abuse, the report said, “Of the total child respondents, 53.22 per cent reported having been subjected to one or more forms of sexual abuse, including severe forms. Of these, 52.94 per cent victims are boys and 47.06 per cent girls.”
In cases of being subjected to severe sexual assaut, the report noted, “Of the total child respondents, 20.90 per cent were subjected to severe forms of sexual abuse, which include making the child fondle private parts, making the child exhibit private body parts and being photographed in the nude. Of these, 57.30 per cent were boys and 42.70 per cent were girls.”
The report on the subject of physical abuse in children stated, “Of 2,324 adults surveyed, 48.8 per cent reported physical abuse when they were children. Of these, 52.7 per cent were male and 47.3 per cent female.”
Regarding the issue of physical abuse of children the report cited, “Of 12,447 child respondents, an overwhelming 69.0 per cent reported physical abuse in one or more situations.”
Lost childhood
1,85,819 cases registered during 2012-14
38,172 cases registered in 2012
58,224 cases in 2013
89,423 cases in 2014
In 2014, the maximum number of cases were reported from Madhya Pradesh at 15,085, followed by UP, Delhi, Maharashtra, West Bengal
Total number of cases of crime against children in states in 2014 was 79758 and in Union Territories the number was 9665.
Source: National Crime Records Bureau
A National Study on ‘Child Abuse’, released by the Ministry, in collaboration with UNICEF, Save the Children and Prayas in 2007, offers startling figures. Of the total child respondents, 53.22 per cent said that they were subjected to one or more forms of sexual abuse. Of the total respondents, 52.94 per cent were boys and 47.06 per cent girls
Next Story
