In a shocking revelation, it has come forward that around 1,000 female students, in the age group of 5-12, have faced sexual abuse of one sort or the other in Rewari district of Haryana. This ordeal of child sexual abuse was revealed in a survey conducted by State Child and Women Commission of the North Indian State.
The survey took place with the help of the Education Department, when a group comprising of 60 teachers was assigned to conduct it. These teachers interviewed student from 443 primary schools and 90 middle schools in the district to establish the advent of this social evil.
During the survey, it was found that children as young as five years old are subjected to sexual abuse by family members, school seniors, neighbors and teachers. Type of abuse ranged from kissing, fondling, stripping and touching sexual organs on the pretext of examining. On condition of anonymity, one of the members conducting the survey said that children, while being interviewed were shy and hesitant to reveal the fact. But nearly 300 minor girls, from Class VI to VIII admitted that they have suffered molestation from the opposite sex.
The stigma attached with sex and the fear of attracting scorn from others and at times threatening of dire consequences, kept this children from complaining about the abuse they faced. Some girls even complained of excruciating pain in their genitalia after being fondled roughly.
Meanwhile, a large number of girls who were interviewed during the course of the survey admitted that they have faced abuse from their school teachers. Not only girls, but boys below the age of 15 have faced abuse. Few boys even complained of being sodomised by their teachers or seniors, revealing the grave situation prevailing in the schools of the district. During the course of the survey it was also revealed that male in the age group of 60 to 70 are the most active predators when it comes to child sexual abuse.