SubEditor – Maryam Sayyed
27 August | Sharad Eknath Darakunde
In just one week, there have been ten incidents of sexual abuse against young girls across the state. Day by day, the number of incidents of violence against women and young girls seems to be increasing. The incident of child sexual abuse that occurred in Badlapur is unfortunate and a stain on humanity. How much longer will we continue to witness such atrocities against innocent children in the land of Chhatrapati?
The word ‘rape’ itself brings to mind the naked, exposed body of a woman, and the subject is often sensationalized for political gain, media headlines, news TRPs, or even casual conversations.
It is as important for adults to be aware of child sexual abuse as it is to educate children about it. How well parents, schools, and colleges communicate this sensitive issue to their children and students is crucial. Today, in many schools and colleges, there is no awareness being created about ‘good touch, bad touch.’ Although some schools and colleges may be exceptions, there is still not enough awareness about ‘good touch, bad touch.’ This is a tragic reflection on our society.
If a girl is harassed or experiences a ‘bad touch’ or sexual abuse, it is essential that she feels safe and unafraid to speak out. Parents, teachers, schools, colleges, and society must create an environment where such incidents can be reported openly. This would ensure that victims receive immediate medical and psychological support. While these expectations may seem easy to state, they are not so simple to fulfill, and we must not ignore this reality.
On the 125th birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule, the Department of School Education and Sports issued a directive to establish a Sakhi Savitri Committee in every school from March 10, 2022, according to the state government’s circular. However, many schools have not yet formed such committees. In some schools where the committee has been established, it exists only on paper. Many schools appear indifferent to this committee. The purpose of establishing the Sakhi Savitri Committee at the school, center, and taluka levels is to create a safe and equitable environment for boys and girls. The committee’s primary principle is to ensure that no student falls victim to any form of abuse. In the rare instance of such an incident occurring, a complaint can be filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.
Sex education is still not openly discussed in our society. Our school curriculum is completely silent on the subject. The reluctance to include sexuality and personal safety in the curriculum stems from societal discomfort with the topic. Sexual abuse of young children can have long-term, far-reaching effects. Physical wounds and harm may heal over time, but the psychological and emotional damage caused by abuse is complex and difficult to mend. It is hard to imagine the mental anguish and social stress that the girl and her parents must be experiencing due to the incident of child sexual abuse in the Badlapur school.
In different countries, severe punishments are imposed for such crimes. In South Korea, rapists are shot. In China, a rapist’s genitals are cut off. In Gulf countries, rapists are beheaded with a sword. In Iraq, rapists are stoned to death. But in our country, we light candles and pray for the victim’s soul to find peace because we cannot take the law into our own hands.
Lately, the feeling of insecurity among girls seems to be growing in every household. Every girl who steps out of her house is at risk of becoming prey to some degenerate’s lust. When these lust-driven individuals realize that the girl does not have sufficient means of self-defense, they mercilessly commit acts of rape to satisfy their desires. There is a need for serious consideration of the harshest possible punishments for such lustful tendencies. Proper follow-up is needed to ensure that strong witness and eyewitness evidence is presented in court. A robust mechanism must be established to prevent such incidents from recurring. Every citizen must come forward vigilantly to prevent these crimes instead of passively observing the incidents.
(Writer is the Rural Political Analyst)
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