Morning assembly, annual day function to be used for spreading awareness against child abuse

New Delhi: In a bid to curb crime against children, Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has decided to ask schools to utilise morning assembly and annual day function to spread awareness about child rights and abuse.

Meanwhile, the child rights body served a notice on a school in Ranhola after a sexual assault case came to light.

According to DCPCR, morning assembly is the time when all children are collectively standing in one place. It is the responsibility of teachers to make them aware about child abuse and rights. The child rights body also proposed to use annual function in schools for awareness. "Guidelines are in the process and will be sent to schools through concerned authorities," said Jyoti Duhan Rathee, a member of DCPCR.

The DCPCR data claimed that from January 2017 to October 2018, they received 341 POCSO Act cases.

In 12 per cent cases, the accused are friends with or closely acquainted to the victims; in 21 per cent cases, the identity of the accused could not be determined; and in nine per cent cases, the accused belonged to educational institutions.

The data further claimed that the location of the offence was the victim's home in 23 per cent cases. In 27 per cent of the POCSO cases, it was the home, workplace or car of the accused. In eight per cent cases, schools were the location.

Meanwhile, taking cognizance of sexual assault case on four-year-old child in Ranhola, the child rights body served notice on the school where the incident took place. The commission told the school to submit a detailed report in the case.

The notice revealed that the commission would like to know whether any programme for sensitization of teachers, parents and students of the school has been organised regarding the safety and security of the children of the school.

Besides this, the Commission would also like to know as to whether all directions issued on the subject by concerned authorities have been complied with in the school.