In a shocking revelation that highlights a deepening crisis, a senior child rights official in Karnataka has expressed grave concern over the skyrocketing number of young individuals being booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Alarming Findings from Prison Visits
KT Thippeswamy, a member of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), recently visited three prisons across the state. His observations painted a disturbing picture: nearly 50% of the inmates were below the age of 30 and were involved in POCSO cases. During his visits to facilities in Ramanagara, Chitradurga, and Uttara Kannada, he found more than 100 inmates implicated in such grievous offences against children.
Speaking at a Children's Interaction Programme in Mangaluru on Tuesday, Thippeswamy interacted with students from 14 schools. He emphasized a troubling pattern in recent POCSO cases, stating that in a majority of instances, girls are abused by persons known to them, including close relatives and neighbours. This underscores the critical need for vigilance within families and communities.
A Multifaceted Threat to Children
Thippeswamy outlined a spectrum of severe threats facing children in the state beyond sexual abuse. He highlighted the misuse of children by begging mafias and urged students to report instances of child begging or forced labour to authorities immediately.
The official shared harrowing data, pointing to the abandonment of newborn babies, and the kidnapping of children for prostitution and organ trafficking rackets. According to recent statistics, around 14,000 children went missing in the state, with police still searching for approximately 1,000 of them.
Further compounding the issue, Thippeswamy cited data from the reproductive and child health (RCH) portal, which recorded around 26,000 underage pregnancies in Karnataka recently. He attributed a significant portion of POCSO cases to the dangerous influence of social media, where predators often first connect with their victims.
A Call for Action and Systemic Strengthening
The interaction programme, organised by KSCPR in collaboration with the Directorate of Child Protection, district administration, and departments of women and child development and school education, aimed to empower children. Thippeswamy called upon young students to be vigilant and report social evils like child marriage, child labour, sexual abuse, and lack of basic school amenities using helplines 1098 or 112.
He stressed the urgent need for stronger child protection measures, greater awareness campaigns, and timely reporting to prevent offences. However, he also pointed out a critical bottleneck: a severe staff shortage in the women and child welfare department, which hampers effective intervention and support.
The programme served as a platform for students to interact directly with officials from various departments, learning about the services available for the protection of their rights. The event underscored a collective resolve to address these pressing challenges, but the data presented makes it clear that the path to safeguarding Karnataka's children requires immediate and sustained effort from all sections of society.
