March 16, 2024

Child abuse on the rise in India

topic:	Child rights
located:	India
editor:	Hanan Zaffar

Reported cases of child abuse in India, particularly sexual abuse, have shown a significant increase. Experts believe many cases go unreported due to social stigma, fear, and lack of awareness, especially in rural areas.

In 2022, India witnessed a staggering 8.7% increase in child abuse cases, reaching a total of 162,000 incidents, as reported by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). This surge came amidst the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic–induced lockdowns, highlighting a disturbing trend in crimes against children.

Annually, NCRB releases comprehensive crime statistics detailing the offences registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and special legislations like the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

Child abuse in India thrives in a complex web of social and economic factors. Poverty, lack of education, and stressful living conditions create a pressure cooker for caregivers, increasing the risk of outbursts and violence. Additionally, deep-rooted social stigmas surrounding mental health and a general lack of awareness about child abuse make it difficult to identify and address the issue.

Abuse against kids occurs across the country at homes, schools, childcare institutions, workplaces, and within communities. It includes sexual abuse, abduction, murder, and child marriage, among other crimes.

The NCRB report highlights that, more often than not, the perpetrators are individuals known to the child, like parents, relatives, or caregivers – creating a dynamic where children are less likely to report abuse due to fear or a lack of understanding of what's happening. This combination of social silence and vulnerability creates a breeding ground for child abuse in India.

According to an analysis by Child Rights and You (CRY), kidnapping and abduction constitute 46% of the crimes against children in India, closely followed by sexual offences. Shockingly, sexual violence against children has surged by 96% from 2016 to 2022.

In 2022 alone, reported cases of child rape and penetrative assaults reached 38,911, marking a significant uptick from 36,381 cases in 2021.

Subhendu Bhattacharjee, Director of Policy Research and Advocacy at CRY, attributes the increase in reported cases of sexual offences against children to the increased public awareness and reporting.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) echoed this sentiment, emphasising that crimes against children are now more visible, with perpetrators facing consequences. The NCPCR highlighted the establishment of a robust mechanism to address such offences.

"Over the years, NCRB has developed a computerised system for FIR, through which data from police stations across the country is being maintained in the report," Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson of NCPCR, said in a post on X. "The Government of India has set up a network of one-stop centres across the country, ensuring that FIRs are registered in cases," he added.

Despite the existence of comprehensive laws like POSCO, which are aimed at safeguarding children from exploitation and violence, child abuse persists in India. Experts underscore the solution lies in effectively implementing these laws and bolstering on–ground human resources to ensure timely intervention and rehabilitation for affected children.

Image by Lucas Metz.

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