Can you believe that 53% of the children face child abuse?  These are the tips to address the menace.

First of all the parents should keep a watch on the daily activities of the children just by befriending with them and spending some time with them on regular basis without giving an impression that spending time with them is only to elicit information from them to use against them later.  Break the barrier and let them know about the body parts and educate them about good touch and bad touch.  Talk to them about sex not like a parent but as a senior friend with experience who guides a junior.  Let them talk about the unusual behavior found in outsiders.  Do not scare them in advance but let them come out with their observations by prompting but not by suggesting.  Children should be taught to remember their names, parents’ details, address, contact numbers of parents and also helpline numbers to use in case of emergency.

Apart from taking care of your children, you should take responsibility to respond when an instance of abuse of a child next door comes to your notice.   Most of the times, instances of that sort draw attention of others than the seniors of the child’s family as the parents may innocently believe a known person who is abusing their child.  Even other society members can be met to talk about the number of cases of child abuses prevailing in the society that educates the parents.

A child abuse is a threat to the nation.  The chances of intellectual growth of a child may get hampered due to no mistake of the child or parents but because of a third person which ultimately hampers national growth.

Where to complain against child abuse?

One can call Child Helpline 1098.  A complaint can be lodged with the local police Special Juvenile Police Unit and Child Welfare Committee.  In case of institutional abuse like at the school or shelter homes etc., the complaint can be given to the head of the Institute and State Child Rights Commission.

-SriJa