Crimes Against Children: Reasons & Impacts

Crimes against children have sharply risen in several Indian states, notably Assam, Rajasthan, & Kerala in 2023. This alarming surge highlights systemic governance lapses & growing vulnerabilities in child protection.

Crimes Against Children: Key Facts

National Increase: Crimes against children rose 25% across India (2018–23).
Assam Surge: Cases nearly doubled from ~5,100 to over 10,000 in 2023.
Rajasthan Rise: Incidents grew 70%, from ~6,200 to more than 10,500.
Kerala Spike: Cases surged 106%, from ~2,800 to nearly 5,900 in 2023.

Constitutional Provisions for Child Protection

Article 15(3): Allows special laws for children.
Article 21: Right to life includes dignity and protection from abuse.
Article 39(e)(f): Directs the state to protect children from exploitation.
Article 45: Ensures early childhood care and education

Reasons for the Surge in Crimes Against Children

Child Marriage Crackdown: Enforcement of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 recorded 5,267 cases in 2023, compared to 150 earlier, & 52% of all crimes against children were related to child marriage.
POCSO Reclassification: Cases moved from IPC 376 to POCSO Sections 4 & 6 (sexual offences). 3,500+ cases under POCSO in 2023, up from <10 in 2021.
Kidnapping Spike: Kidnapping and abduction cases rose to 54% of all crimes against children.
Improved Reporting: Rise due to better enforcement of the POCSO Act, 2012 and awareness campaigns. E.g. Kerala’s CyberDome Project uses AI to track child exploitation cases online.

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Crimes Against Children: Impacts

Rising Incidents: Crimes against children increased by 25% nationally, with Assam, Kerala, and Rajasthan reporting the sharpest spikes (NCRB).
Child Marriage: 52% of crimes against children in 2023 were linked to child marriage, reflecting social and economic vulnerabilities.
Sexual Abuse: Over 3,500 cases under POCSO were reported in 2023, up from less than 10 in 2021, showing rising exploitation.
Kidnapping & Trafficking: Kidnapping and abduction cases accounted for 54% of crimes against children, endangering safety and development.
Educational Disruption: Early marriage, abuse, and child labour cause school dropouts, reducing future opportunities and perpetuating poverty.

Government Initiatives to Address Crimes Against Children

POSCO Act: Protects children from sexual offences with stringent punishments & special courts.
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act: Criminalises child marriage and enables annulment & penalties.
Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS): Provides institutional support, child welfare committees, and rehabilitation services.
Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act: Prohibits hazardous work for children and regulates permissible work for adolescents.
One Stop Centres (OSC): Support children affected by violence with medical, legal, and psychological assistance.
Awareness Campaigns: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Childline 1098, and other programs to raise awareness and reporting.

Way Forward

Institutional Strengthening: Establish Fast-track POCSO courts under the Nirbhaya Fund along with specialised child-sensitive courts. (Justice Verma Committee,2013)
Mission Vatsalya: It integrates child protection, rescue & rehabilitation. E.g. Assam’s District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) combine policing with counselling.
Education & Awareness: Implement POCSO e-box and School Safety Programmes nationwide. E.g. Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan includes child safety modules in the curriculum.
Technology & Monitoring: Strengthen the National Tracking System for Missing Children under the TrackChild Portal. E.g. Telangana’s DARPAN system monitors trafficking in real time.
Rehabilitation Care: Empower Village Child Protection Committees (VCPCs) and integrate Childline 1098 services and strengthen the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection) Act, 2015 implementation.

“The true measure of any society is how it treats its children.” Rising crimes against children highlight the urgent need for child protection, legal enforcement, education, rehabilitation, and social awareness to safeguard their rights, dignity, and future.

Reference: The Hindu | PMFIAS: Child Marriage

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 373

Approach

Introduction: Write a contextual introduction by mentioning the latest data.
Body: Examine the responsible factors for the increasing rate of crime against children, their impact on children, and propose policy measures to strengthen preventive and rehabilitative frameworks.
Conclusion: Emphasis on a tool-centric approach to reduce crime against children.