Govt says 53 pc kids abused

New Delhi: Within three months of the Nithari case, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has released the first ever report on child abuse.

The study, which had a sample survey of over 17,000, comes with seriously disturbing data like children, both boys and girls, are abused by people they trust. The study also says that 53 per cent of the surveyed children reported one or more forms of sexual abuse.

“It’s a sad case. This report is significant because it’s the first ever data on child abuse,” said Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhury.

According to the survey

Boys and girls are equally at risk of abuse.

70 per cent of abused children have never reported the matter to anyone.

Children between 5-12 report higher levels of abuse.

People in trust and authority of children constitute the most number of abusers.

Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Delhi top in child abuse cases.

Kerala has the lowest incidence of child abuse.

The Ministry's survey has divided abuse into three categories which includes, physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

The survey states:

Physical abuse, which includes slapping and corporal punishment has been experienced by over 50 per cent children. It also says that 88.6 per cent of these children face physical abuse from parents and 45.68 per cent of these children are boys.

A shocking 53.22 per cent children have faced sexual abuse with 50 per cent abusers known to the children. The report says that most children do not report the matter to anyone.

Every second child reports emotional abuse and an equal number of girls and boys report such abuse. In 83 per cent of such cases parents are the abusers.

However, Chowdhury assured that the government “will try and make a difference.”

The Ministry is now bringing in legislation to establish the National and State Commissions for Protection of Rights of the Child, it is also drafting Offences against Children Bill and actively promoting its Integrated Child Protection scheme.

UNTOLD HORROR
	Describing the findings of the study as "disturbing", Chowdhury called for an end to the "conspiracy of silence".
	Lamenting that there was no data in the country on child abuse, Chowdhury said it was a "landmark study".
	Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Delhi have consistently reported higher rates of abuse in all forms as compared to other states. These states showed higher physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children, indicating the rampant neglect faced by girls across the country.
	The report also said that 48.7 per cent girls wished they were boys.
	The issue of child abuse has been raised in the past by non-governmental organisations, but this is the first time that an attempt has been made by the Government to document the scale of the problem.
	Nearly 65 per cent of schoolchildren reported facing corporal punishment or beatings by teachers mostly in government schools, the survey said.