The Hindu : 'Openness, key to curbing child abuse'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 14, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

'Openness, key to curbing child abuse'

By Subha J. Rao

COIMBATORE, FEB. 13. How would you expect a child, sexually abused by her father, to react when it is payback time? Thrilled that the perpetrator is going to be punished? Not really. "Even after all that they have gone through, these kids still harbour some love for the father. They tend to think that even if they go to the police, it is their father who will be imprisoned," says Md Nasimuddin, Director, Social Defence.

Speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines of an orientation programme on juvenile justice here Wednesday, he said if abuse was to be contained, there must be more openness. "Only then can kids speak out. They cannot share their experiences under prevailing shroud of secrecy and suppression."

Today's police force is more sensitised to child-related issues. Did that come easy? "See, policing has remained a law-enforcing machinery for 200-odd years. Only now is it being introduced to the concept of social policing. It will take some time. But, the personnel are quite receptive at sensitisation sessions.

And, senior-level officers are keen on increasing the awareness of their personnel." As for handling streetchildren, Mr. Nasimuddin says: "It is very difficult to uproot them in one go. The best thing to do is to provide an opportunity for change. Sudden change traumatises them. A gradual change in lifestyle is needed along with a heavy dose of counselling."

Mr. Nasimuddin is firm about not rushing things. "We do not want to go `bang bang' when it comes to weaning kids away from the streets. We must get into their lives, become their friends and let them know there is a way to earn money while keeping their self-respect intact. We are getting there slowly."

Talking about Child Line, helpline being run for children, the official said the callers were not necessarily children with problems. "Kids from middle class urban homes also call up. Invariably from a home with working parents, all they need is someone to listen to a joke or a song. Our counsellors fill that gap."

Earlier, addressing district advisory committee (DAC) members at the programme, he said that as children did not have associations, they would not be able to fight for their rights. He wanted the DACs to pool resources and keep vigil on developments concerning children.

"Your responsibility is open-ended. It depends on how much responsibility you assume," he told delegates Coimbatore, Erode, the Nilgiris, Salem, Namakkal, Madurai, Dindigul and Ramanathapuram districts.

Replying to a question by one of the participants whether designated child welfare officers in police stations would continue to wear khaki, Mr. Nasimuddin said they should preferably be in mufti so as to eliminate fear in children.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu