Terming child sexual abuse a sensitive issue, Governor Droupadi Murmu has said that Yoga must be included in the education system as it helps in improving physical and mental health of a person.
The Governor, while speaking during launching of the campaign - ‘It Takes Jharkhand to End Child Sexual Abuse’, also added that the mentality of the society needs to be changed to stop the evil.
World Vision India, working in the field of child protection, launched a nationwide campaign to end child sexual abuse and exploitation by 2021 on Monday.
“As this evil calls for making changes in the mentality of the people, Yoga must be included in the syllabus in schools and colleges so that people could learn how to keep physical and mental balance in one’s body,” said the Governor. “Everyone has to be sensitive to end this evil and hence Yoga is must to change his/her perception,” she added.
The Governor further added that efforts made in this regard must be a continuous process and should not be limited to workshops and seminars only.
“Toll free number 1098 is definitely a commendable effort, but people responding on the other side should also be sensitive enough that he understands the problems of a child or person making complaint on it,” Murmu said. “Even children in schools were not safe now days,” she added.
Principal Secretary of the Women, Child Development and Social Security Department MS Bhatia, terming it a hidden epidemic, said that the evil should not be crushed under the carpet and the children must be made aware about the good and bad touch.
“We are not ready to discuss the issue in our society. Age appropriate protocol defining at what age a child should be given what kind of information against the child sexual abuse, must be designed so the children could be made aware of it right from his or her childhood,” said Bhatia. Biggest challenge lies in our homes as according to a survey conducted in 2007, more than 52 per cent of the abuses were done by a close relative or a close acquaintance of the child, he said.
“Disabled children are 3-4 times more susceptible to such problems,” Bhatia said.
IG (CID) Sampat Meena, on the other hand, said that the preventing such incidents was more important than to deal with it lawfully after it has already happened.
“It takes more to rehabilitate and bring those children lead a normal life who have gone through such a trauma in a tender age. Hence, it is important to prevent such incidents by creating awareness among the children as well as their parents about such evil,” said Meena.
“It’s high time we should realize the importance of securing our children from such evil,” said the IG.
Advocacy Head of World Vision India Michael Pradhan said, “The magnitude of sexual violence against children is unknown. Yet there is enough conversation and action taken on this issue. We intend to encourage every Indian to provide a safe environment to children.” India has the world’s largest number of sexually abused children, he added.