According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNHCR), Child is defined as every human being below the age of 18 years. In India, the definition varies in different laws like below 18 years in Justice Juvenile Act 2015 and below 14 in Child Labour Act 1986. Children are the greatest asset and future of our society. They account for about 40 % of the total population of India and form an important section of the society. The future of every nation is largely determined by how its children grow and develop. They need love, care, shelter and protection for their growth and development. Children have the inherent right to live with dignity and develop to fullest potential. This includes the right to survival, right to protection, right to participation and right to development. The constitution of India safeguards the children’s rights and prohibits all kinds of violence against children under various laws of the land. Right to education, health care, adequate nutrition and a supportive environment are their fundamental rights. Due to Industrial growth, westernization, population explosion, cyber revolution, the children have become most vulnerable to every disaster natural and manmade. Child abuse is a pervasive and serious problem not in the Jammu and Kashmir but all across the country. It is growing at a very high pace. For the last many years, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and girl child neglect are very prevalent in our contemporary society. Abduction, kidnapping, abandonment, selling, trafficking and sexual abuse cases are serious and soaring sending the shock waves among the people. The children falling victim of crimes are mostly orphans, missing, neglected, begging, deprived, migrant, refugee, and the poor. These children are the most vulnerable members of society facing many problems. Our so called modern society is developed in such a way that children at infancy are snatched even basic rights by their parents like breast milk, basic education, food, right to speech etc. Cursing and abusing children by parents for not getting high marks in board examinations and cracking NEET examination is also a psychological abuse. Harassments, depriving basic rights of children, mental torture by parents are counted as serious child abuse. There are thousands of children reported in Jammu and Kashmir who have been neglected by parents. Deliberate neglect of children are affecting mental health of children and subsequently make them easy victim of forced labour, kidnapping, sexual abuse, drug addiction, anxiety, depressions and suicides. Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing a rise in crimes against children over the last few years. Incidence of kidnapping, abduction, sexual abuse, forced labour, trafficking, cyber bulling, stabbing, murder cases have become very common here. It is pertinent to mention that thousands’ of child abuse cases witnessing in society are not reported by people due to many reasons. According to a survey conducted, there are 160 million child labour globally and 10.1 million in India. The child labour is very` common in Jammu and Kashmir and thousands of children are working in brick kilns cement factories, small-scale industries, agricultural fields, shops, service centres etc. child labour deprives our children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity and is harmful to their physical and mental development. The poverty and economic hardship mainly drive families to push their children into labour. Child sexual abuse is a heinous crime and prevalent in our society. The brutal rape incidents of kathua and Sumbal are unforgettable to every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir. Child sexual abuse have psychological, emotional and physical effects on child. It causes severe anxiety and depression that increases suicidal thoughts. Child sexual abuse is always shaking the conscience of civilized citizens. In order to protect the blooming and growing children from all forms of abuse, the government of India has strengthened child protection and welfare laws. The Justice Juvenile (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 is a remarkable act that provides a comprehensive legal framework for the protection, care and rehabilitation of children in need of care and protection. Under this act, many childcare homes have been established that are providing safe shelter, care and rehabilitation to children in need of care and protection. These are also providing proper care and safe shelter to children vulnerable to exploitation and abuse or who have been victims of abuse, exploitation and neglect.
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“Education and awareness among the people about the child rights’, strengthening of existing laws, improved accessibility of child protection services, establishment of more child care homes and proactive role of parents, child welfare committee and board together can play important role in controlling the child abuse to more extent. It is a noble mission and our moral duty to save all the blooming and budding children from cruelty, abuse and exploitation for their growth, development and prosperous future”.
The establishment of Child helpline in all districts of Jammu and Kashmir for children in distress or a chance of being abused is a great step. The child helpline is open for 24/7 and any person or child can inform and report them about the child abuse. Its staff members are continuously providing counselling, support and guidance to children in distress or in danger of being abused. Child abuse deserves to be condemned in every respect. Its effects are severe and long lasting on the physical and mental wellbeing of children. It snatches the happy and merry childhood. Institutions in the name of children welfare without the proper registration in Jammu and Kashmir should be closed. It is pertinent to mention that a few months ago; many innocent children were rescued by the child welfare committee from clutches of persons running an orphanage without registration in Srinagar. Institutions in the name of children welfare without registration should not take undue advantage of government schemes and hoodwinking parents and destroying the future of innocent children. Establishment of special fast track courts to deal with cases of child abuse is the need of hour. These courts must be equipped in all respects in terms of technology and tools to speed the trial process and ensure speedy justice to children victims. A scheme was launched by the government of India on a mission mode called Vatsalya scheme aimed at providing a protective and safe environment for children. For the last many years, hundreds of children have been rescued and sheltered in childcare institutions in J & K under the Scheme mission Vatsalya. Civilised citizens can also approach the Child welfare board and committee for care, protection and welfare of children in abuse and distress conditions. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 protects the children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography. It provides for establishment of special courts for the trial of such offences and related matters and incidents. Child Labour (prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 prohibits employment of children below 14 years of age. The child protection services scheme is aimed at providing a secure, protective environment for vulnerable children including those in situations of abuse. There are fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution for protection of child rights like article 14, 15, 21, 23, and 24. The State shall have the duty to protect all children from all forms of violence and abuse, harm, neglect, stigma, maltreatment, discrimination, deprivation, exploitations, abduction, separation, abandonment, sale and trafficking. Education and awareness among the people about the child rights’, strengthening of existing laws, improved accessibility of child protection services, establishment of more child care homes and proactive role of parents, child welfare committee and board together can play important role in controlling the child abuse to more extent. It is a noble mission and our moral duty to save all the blooming and budding children from cruelty, abuse and exploitation for their growth, development and prosperous future.
(The author is a teacher at Govt Boys Higher Secondary School Beerwa Budgam.The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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