Concern over rise in POCSO cases : K.A. Shaji

The Hindu: Kerala: Monday, June 04, 2018.

Officials accused of apathetic attitude, Palakkad district lacks shelter homes for victims

The increasing number of cases registered in Palakkad under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has caused concern. The alleged lackadaisical approach of the departments concerned in addressing the issue has worsened the situation. Besides, the district has limited facilities to ensure the safety and rehabilitation of the victims.

As per data sourced by Right to Information (RTI) activists from different courts in the district, 469 cases were registered in the last three years. Among them, 180 cases were registered between January and May this year.

“In most cases, the attitude of officials responsible to deal with the victims is lethargic. Three days ago, a minor tribal girl who was brought to the hospital for women and children in Palakkad for the mandatory medical examination had to wait for more than six hours for the gynaecologist. The doctor reached the hospital to complete the process only after some mediapersons and social activists intervened in the matter,” points out social activist Gireesh Kadumthuruthy. The doctor had refused to act for several hours despite repeated requests from the police. She later claimed that she was busy with some surgeries.

Ineffective watchdogs

Activists allege that the district child rights committee and the Child Line facility have remained ineffective in Palakkad owing to lack of manpower and resource crunch. The district also lacks proper shelter homes, which can provide both temporary and long- term rehabilitation for the victims. Despite the increasing number of victims, the proposal to set up a children’s home exclusively for girls in distress remains on paper. The local Mahila Mandiram under the Social Welfare Department for both women and girls is overcrowded. At present, it has 44 inmates against the maximum capacity of 33.

Work on the promised rehabilitation centre of the district panchayat is also yet to begin.

The Nirbhaya Home in Olavakkode, which was established exclusively for victims in POCSO cases, has facility only for 30 inmates. Now, the authorities are sending victims in newer cases to the children’s home in Kozhikode, which also is overcrowded.

According to Social Welfare Department officials, more shelters are required in Palakkad given the increasing number of victims. “In a number of cases, the accused are close relatives of the victims.

In such situation, proper rehabilitation must be provided from the moment the case has been registered. Sending children to rehabilitation centres in far away districts would affect the investigation and further proceedings,” said a senior police officer dealing with POCSO cases.