Drive to be launched to sensitise kids on abuse

With many incidents of child abuse going unreported, a drive will be launched to sensitise children to express if they encounter any inappropriate touch, request or demands, even in writing if they are not comfortable orally.
The exercise will be launched by the Women and Child Development Ministry in collaboration with the HRD Ministry in schools across the country to bring to the fore cases of child abuse.
"We will start an exercise with the help of NGOs as a part of which we will go to schools and make students aware about good and bad touch," WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi said today.

She said talks are already underway with an NGO about the programme which will also be an awareness venture to educate students about "inappropriate" or uncomfortable touches, requests or demands.
In India most cases of child sexual abuse go unreported due to fear of social stigma and lack of faith in government institutions.
According to UNICEF, one in three rape victims in India is a child and more than 7,200 children, including infants are raped every year in the country.
"You know lot of children do not know what inappropriate touching is and then we will also hand out a form which they can fill up. We are going to work with Human Resource Development Ministry to see how we can get through all schools.

"Those students who are not comfortable to speak out will get an option to write them down. Many cases of physical abuse go unreported and the idea is to make the children open up," Gandhi said.