Vijayawada : HC panel bats for spreading awareness

Vijayawada : The Andhra Pradesh High Court Committee on Juvenile Justice comprising Justice Kongara Vijayalaxmi, Justice G Ramakrishna Prasad and Justice V Sujatha released the posters on 'Stop Child Sexual Abuse' and also approved a 8-minute video showcasing the difference between good touch and bad touch and SOS call to 1098 CHILDLINE/100 police/181Women Helpline. In a helpless situation, the posters suggest to the children to shout-run-tell when in an uncomfortable condition with adults including close relatives.

The Committee on Juvenile Justice suggested that the posters should be displayed in all classrooms of private, government and aided schools. It was also suggested that the collector needs to plan permanent type of posters instead of temporary posters. The committee members asserted the importance of display on all special children homes, Anganwadi centres, all types of colleges, girl's social welfare buildings, panchayats, malls, exhibitions, bus stops, buses specially school buses and all kinds of hostels.

The committee members are particular about disabled children. The approved video must be played in all schools and class rooms. They also suggested orientation to be given to school managements on how to call and lodge a complaint by dialling 1098.

It has been decided to conduct the next round of meeting on next Tuesday on Training of Trainers Concept and use of volunteers and psychologists to spread awareness on good touch and bad touch.

NTR district collector Dilli Rao and commissioner of police Kanti Rana Tata, the officials of women and child welfare department, the district probation officer and Chidline Ramesh also participated in the meeting.

Earlier, the committee members along with the officials reviewed on recent sexual abuse case which was noticed in Annamma Special School for differently-abled and street children rehabilitation centre at Ibrahimpatnam. They are satisfied regarding the action taken report and progress of investigation. They suggested the officials to make a special drive on all such homes in the district. The High Court committee is interested to take up wide publicity of IEC material across all the districts in the state on the lines of NTR district.