Child Abuse

207 Pages·2007·4.74 MB·English

Study on
Child Abuse:
INDIA 2007
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Government of India
© Ministry of Women and Child Development,
Government of India
2007
Sketches used in the report have been drawn by Child Respondents
Researcher's remarks/observations in the report are from the study itself
Printed by
Kriti, New Delhi
Errors and Omissions:
The editors and authors have made every attempt to present factual information.
Study on Child Abuse
INDIA 2007
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Government of India
Areport prepared by:
Dr. Loveleen Kacker, IAS
Srinivas Varadan
Pravesh Kumar
Supported by:
Dr. Nadeem Mohsin
Anu Dixit

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Message i
Foreword iii
Preface v
List of Abbreviations viii
1. Introduction 01
2. Research Methodology 11
3. Instruments and Standards for Protection of Child Rights 21
4. Profile of Respondents 33
5. Physical Abuse 41
6. Sexual Abuse 71
7. Emotional Abuse and Girl Child Neglect 103
8. Conclusion and Recommendations 119
9. Annexures 127
10. References 192

Smt. Renuka Chowdhury
Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Government of India
Message
The Honorable President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, in his address to the joint session of the
Parliament reiterated the government's commitment to women and children:
"The rights of women and children and their aspirations are of paramount importance in our march towards
an inclusive and equitable society. Keeping in view the Constitutional provisions and in order to give
greater focus to issues relating to women and children, an independent Ministry of Women & Child
Development has been created. This emphasizes the importance being given to women as equal partners
in development. Landmark legislations that ensure women's safety and protecting them from domestic
violence have been enacted. Investment in the well-being of children is an investment in the future of the
country. Eradication of malnutrition is receiving topmost priority, including through a rapid expansion of
anganwadis whose numbers will reach one million soon. At the same time issues relating to child
protection are high on my Government's agenda".
In accordance with the Government of India's commitment to women and children's issues, the Ministry of
Women and Child Development was created in early 2006. This move, along with increased allocations
for children in the budget of 2007-08, is reflective of our government's commitment towards children.
India's children are India's future as the strength of the nation lies in a healthy, protected, educated and
well-developed child population that will grow up to be productive citizens of the country.
Child abuse is shrouded in secrecy and there is a conspiracy of silence around the entire subject. In fact
there is a well entrenched belief that there is no child abuse in India and certainly there is no sexual abuse
in the country. Further, certain kinds of traditional practices that are accepted across the country, knowingly
or un-knowingly amount to child abuse. Existing socio-economic conditions also render some children
vulnerable and more at risk to abuse, exploitation and neglect. It is about time that we recognize this and
take remedial measures. Lack of empirical evidence and qualitative information on the dimensions of child
abuse and neglect makes it difficult to address the issue in a comprehensive manner.
My Ministry took the initiative to undertake a Study on Child Abuse to understand the extent and magnitude
of child abuse in India. I congratulate the officials for taking this initiative and I also appreciate UNICEF
and Save the Children for supporting the study and for partnering the Government's efforts whole
heartedly.
The work and dedication of Dr. Loveleen Kacker, Joint Secretary (Child Welfare) and her team must be
put on record here. I congratulate all individuals and agencies who contributed to this study. I hope this
first study of its kind will lead to heightened awareness and greater response among families, communities
and society at large leading to strong interventions and further studies on child protection.
I dedicate this report to the nation with the hope that it will help establish and strengthen policies,
programmes and legislations on child protection.
Renuka Chowdhury
i

Smt. Deepa Jain Singh
Secretary
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Government of India
Foreword
India is home to almost 19 percent of the world's children. More than one third of the country's population,
around 440 million, is below 18 years. According to one assumption 40 percent of these children are in
need of care and protection, which indicates the extent of the problem. In a country like India with its multi-
cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious population, the problems of socially marginalized and
economically backward groups are immense. Within such groups the most vulnerable section is always
the children. For the Ministry of Women and Child Development the challenge is to reach out to the most
vulnerable and socially excluded child of this country and create an environment wherein, not only is every
child protected, but s/he also has access to opportunities and education for her/his all round growth and
development.
Independent India has taken large strides in addressing issues like child education, health and
development. However, child protection has remained largely unaddressed. There is now a realization that
if issues of child abuse and neglect like female foeticide and infanticide, girl child discrimination, child
marriage, trafficking of children and so on are not addressed, it will affect the overall progress of the
country.
Realizing this, the Government of India is focusing on child issues and created a new Ministry of Women
and Child Development. MWCD has taken significant steps to address the issue of child protection by
setting up a National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, amending the Juvenile Justice (Care
and protection of Children) Act 2000 and the Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929, launching the Integrated
Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) and the proposed amendments to the ITPAand the draft Offences against
Children (Prevention) Bill.
However, all these efforts need further supplementation through the creation of adequate knowledge base
on child protection. In order to address this gap, one of the significant decisions taken by the Ministry was
to initiate a National Study on Child Abuse in the year 2005. This study, which is the largest of its kind
undertaken anywhere in the world, covered 13 states with a sample size of 12447 children, 2324 young
adults and 2449 stakeholders. It looked at different forms of child abuse: Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse
and Emotional Abuse and Girl Child Neglect in five different evidence groups, namely, children in a family
environment, children in school, children at work, children on the street and children in institutions. This
study was also meant to complement the UN Secretary General's Global Study on Violence against
Children, 2006.
I congratulate the Ministry officials and the three partner organisations, UNICEF, Save the Children and
Prayas for supporting the Ministry in successfully concluding the study in the stipulated time. I would like
to congratulate Dr. Loveleen Kacker, Joint Secretary (Child Welfare) and her team for their unstinting work
and commitment in ensuring the completion of this project. I look forward to the implementation of the
recommendations of this study which will go a long way in ameliorating the condition of the most needy
and vulnerable children of India.
Deepa Jain Singh
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