Shalet Jimmy By

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:The law still lacks an effective mechanism to protect a child’s identity in incest cases, which reportedly accounts for 70 per cent of the sexual offences committed against children in the state. This single lacunae has been cited as the prime reason for the incessant rise in the number of sexual offences against children in Kerala, cites experts.

As many as 1,375 sexual abuse cases were registered in 2014 under the Protection of children from sexual offences Act (POCSO) 2012, whereas it was 1,124 in 2013, says Susheela Mathew, senior consultant, POCSO, Child Rights Commission.

Kollam tops the list with 165 cases followed by Thiruvananathapuram with 135, Ernakulam and Thrissur with 125 and 123 cases respectively, cites Child Rights Commission.

Data availed from the Kerala Police’s website, draws a grim picture with crimes against children increasing from 1,877 in 2013 to 2,286 in 2014. The number of rape cases has also surged from 637 in 2013 to 709 in 2014.

With the implementation of POCSO Act, things have changed for the better.

But what about the brazen intrusion into the private space called ‘home’, where 70 per cent of sexual offences against children are committed,” says P E Usha, Director, Mahila Samakhya Society and a child rights activist. “Can the proceedings continue without revealing the identity of the abused child?, Can he/she be given emotional and physical security once a sexual offence is reported ? Whether the system has the medical facility to deal with the trauma of an abused child through the proceedings? The answer is a big fat ‘No’. With such prerequisites being absent, the child has nothing that makes him/her come out in the open,” she observed.

The data with the police department and the commission often vary drastically, as in many cases chargesheets are not filed even after filing the FIR, she pointed out.

In a case where a man abuses her daughter is reported, the summons is received by the father as he is the guardian, she said.

“The hapless mother who will have to care for her other children will not back the child as she is dependent on the father.

There are also instances where the mother uses the child’s assets to fight the father’s case. Though the District Collector can intervene to protect the property of the child, it is for a limited time. Besides, social stigma adds to the victim’s misery.

Result? The issue is hushed up then and there,” she lamented.

Data on Police Website

Other crimes against children - 1,385

Rape - 709

Kidnapping and abduction - 116

Total murder - 39

Other murder - 39

Prohibition of child marriage act - 16

Exposure and

abandmont - 6

Abetment of suicide - 5