The sanctimonious pride with which we espouse Indian family values has been proved to be a myth. The ugly truth is out - one out of every two Indian children has suffered some form of abuse.

Within three months of that ghastly Nithari case, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has released the first ever report on child abuse.

The study surfaces an alarming figure of child abuse. It shows that 53 percent out of over 17,000 children reported one or more forms of sexual abuse. This is the first time the government has done such an exhaustive survey on the controversial issue of child abuse.

Abuse of children, particularly sexual abuse, is rarely admitted in India and activists have welcomed the study. Releasing the report at a press conference in the capital, Delhi, Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury said,

In India there’s a tradition of denying child abuse. It doesn’t happen here is what we normally say. But by remaining silent, we have aided and abetted the abuse of children.

Is there a way out?

There are no simple solutions to this issue. However, a series of measures must be instituted without delay if we are to begin the battle against child abuse. To begin with, the child must be sensitized to what constitutes abuse. Parents need to shake off their false morality when it comes to discussing matters like sexual abuse with children.

Last year alone, the government had barred children under the age of fourteen from being employed in any kind of work force but unfortunately, children were continued to work in these arenas.

India is a signatory to various international laws on the protection of children, but implementation of these laws is often lax.

Change may be long in coming but we need to make a beginning somewhere if we claim to be a civilized society.

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