Prevent child abuse, ensure safety of school kids

"School is building with four walls with tomorrow inside" said eminent teacher Lon Watters. The recent incidents that are taking place in schools recently across the country are however mounting pressure on the parent community about today's future of their wards and not about the tomorrows. The schools are to be considered as next to mother's lap and nourish the child by providing a joyful learning environment and make them tomorrow's citizen studded with values. But, today we have been forced to pay heed to the news almost every day from each corner of the country about the child abuse. Now in our country child abuse has been on its progression in schools. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), child abuse has many forms; physical, emotional, sexual, neglect and exploitation. Any of these that are potentially or actually harmful to a child's health, survival, dignity, and development are abuse.

As per the revelations of "Save the children-India" an NGO which works against the child abuse due to the amendments and strengthening of The Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act(POSCO) registering of cases raised from 8904 in 2014 to 14,913 in 2015.The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) recorded 33,052 cases of crimes against children 2011, 38,172 cases in 2012 and 58,224 cases in 2013 these statistics will reflect the unsafe future of our future wealth.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Reports is providing the substantial evidence that our system's stoicism towards the child abuse. As per the records of NCPC, only 8 per cent (555) cases were trailed against 6,816 police cases registered in 2014 for sexual abuse of children. Further, a survey made by the Ministry of Women and Child Development reported that half the children surveyed 53.

22 per cent were facing some kind of sexual abuse. Among this 20 per cent, children were severely sexually abused and in this 57.30 per cent were boys as against 42.70 girls. It is an appalling fact that the children in between 5-12 age are sexually abused. Further, it is the more pathetic thing to notice 50 per cent cases of abuse committed by the offenders that are more trusted by the children. Most of the children those who were abused are not reporting due to the fear factor and it is very disheartening to absorb that nearly eight child abuse cases are reported every single day. The conviction rate also discouraging and some acquittals also resisting the parents and victims to report the abuse. It is more astonishing to recognize the first agency of transmission home is also becoming a hell on the earth for the children due to their abuse.

It is a very great effort of the Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi who is touring across the country to promote awareness of child abuse. It is the right time to the likeminded organisation to support Satyarthi's endeavour for this noble cause. The union government and state governments should have to provide more teeth to the existing laws and to establish special courts across the country for the speedy disposal of the child abuse cases.

Further, it is the duty of the state to make all the schools and their management to adhere to the RTE -2009 in letter and spirit. In RTE chapter -IV the section 17(1) clearly spelled that no child should be abused physically and psychologically. But, in the schools, child abuse is going on unabated and the RTE remained as another act which had taken off with a noble aim but not to abide by.

The schools are not at all following the RTE and its sections relating to the child abuse. The formation of grievance redressal committees in all schools with the child rights protection organizations and creating awareness about the RTE and about the child rights may reduce the magnitude of the problem child abuse. Further, the conduct juvenile law awareness camps in schools and making the parents aware of the same will also help to some extent. Further, the state governments should have to cancel the registration of the schools that are found to be default in child abuse irrespective of their reputation. Then only our schools will realise the saying " Those who get lost on the way to school will never find their way through life"