Are young girls not safe in Karnataka? Here are the numbers
- In the last six months, as many as 47 cases of sexual harassment on girls have been reported
- Shockingly, a majority of the victims were less than 12 years old
- Karnataka is now looi\king to educate personnel, police and media representatives on handling POCSO cases
FollowAre young girls are no longer safe in Karnataka? That seems to be the indication from the disturbing numbers gathered. As many as 47 sexual harassment cases on young girls have been filed with the State Child Rights Commission in the last six months, and the numbers seem to be rising by the day.
Statistics show that girls, especially those below 12 years, are the most targeted and accused include teachers in schools and tuition classes and relatives, reports Prajavani. Worse, in the case of a gang rape of an 11-year-old girl in Madikeri, the accused included members of the police too. The investigation is on in this case, reports Prajavani.
In fact, the Commission has received a whopping 507 complaints of child marriage, devadasi practice, cheating in RTE, physical harassment and medical negligence complaints since January 2017. The commission receives direct complaints from the victims themselves. Sometimes, it also takes up suo motu complaints based on media reports. Complaints lodged with the police are also considered.
"The Commission conducts a medical test on the victims and the victims are provided Rs 5,000 as compensation by the Commission," reports Prajavani quoting Mariswamy, a member of the State Child Rights' Commission. He also expressed concern over the rising number in child trafficking and child marriage.
At least 12 cases of child trafficking have been lodged with the Commission, and they are being investigated by the district child protection officer.
For example, a case of a child marriage involving a 14-year-old girl came to light at a mass marriage ceremony. In another case, the Commission received a complaint where a girl was raped before being forced into marriage. Not just these, complaints of girls admitted under RTE being beaten up for using toilets in schools have also brought to the notice of the commission.
Apart from these, the cases of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act are also on the rise in the state - which the commission is more worried about. The majority of such cases are being reported from schools and homes.
"This is a disturbing trend. We are taking every effort to educate our staff on handling cases registered under POCSO. Besides, in our committee there is personnel from the police department, media house and health department who will also be educated on how to handle POCSO cases," Mariswamy added.
