SHILLONG:
The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) has registered 1899 cases of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 since 2014 till 2021.
As per the SCPCR data, 46 are males and 1853 are females.
The data also shows that the maximum number of the victims – 820 — are in the age group of 10-15 years.
In the age group of 0-5 years, the Commission has since 2014 registered 170 cases. There are 420 cases between the ages of 6 and 10 years and in the age group of 16-18 years there are 489 cases registered.
As per the SCPCR data in more than 90 per cent of the cases, the perpetrators are persons known to them or family members.
Meanwhile, SCPCR chairperson Iamon Syiem informed that there are also unreported cases because of fear and the victims feel threatened.
Syiem also said that in many of the cases, the main culprit is the stepfather.
The SCPCR chairperson said that the Commission is also creating intense awareness on good and bad touch.
She also informed that the Commission is collaborating with the Faith Foundation to take up with the authorities in the government to include personal safety education in school syllabus.
She said that there is a need for Personal Safety Education (PSE) to be taught in all schools.
“PSE will include protection, prevention, safeguard and good and bad touch,” the SCPCR chairperson said.
She also said that the teachers should also be aware of signs a victim is going through and they will be trained for this.
“Teachers should counsel and mentor the students,” Syiem said.