Kochi: The physical abuse of children has risen over three-fold in the district in 2017-18 as compared to the previous financial year despite the police’s innovative initiatives such as ‘Child-Friendly’ police stations. As per figures released by ChildLine, the agency involved in protection of rights of the children, there were 216 cases of ‘physical abuse’ of children from April 2017 to March 2018 as against 79 cases during the corresponding period of the previous year. “

There were also 75 ‘emotional/ verbal’ abuse cases registered.

“We’ve witnessed a sharp rise physical and psychological abuse cases being reported against children. This calls for tough action on the part of authorities including school-level campaigns,” said Father Tomy SDB, director of ChildLine, Kochi. However, the child sexual abuse cases showed a slight dip with 78 cases being recorded in 2017-18 as against 94 cases the previous year. The agency also came across three child marriage cases in 2017-18 in the district. The ChildLine, Kochi made 1,286 interventions in 2017-18 as against 1032 cases the previous year.

Meanwhile, Kochi still continues to employ child labourers with the agency succeeding in detecting 39 and 35 cases in the 2017-18 and 2016-17 years respectively. “Now more and more children are being brought here from North-East states by a lobby with the consent of the parents. Though Children in the age-group of 14 to 18 years can be employed in non-hazardous jobs, many employers fail to follow the norms under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act,” the Child Line director said.