Addressing children issues on sexual abuse and sensitizing the community to ensure child friendly atmosphere in Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu, India

Violence against children is increasing in third world countries like India. Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a universal problem with grave life-long outcomes. The estimates vary widely depending on the country. The prevalence of CSA is difficult to determine because it is often not reported. The child sexual abuse statistics depict that 1 in every 5 girls and 1 in every 20 boys is a victim of CSA. Children are most vulnerable to CSA between the ages of 7 and 13. Children living without either of the parents are 10 times more vulnerable to it and children who live with a single parent who has a live-in partner are at the highest risk. They are 20 times more likely to be sexually abused than children who live with both biological parents. These statistics are a call to action for parents, careers and teachers everywhere. Learning the facts is the first step to prevent CSA is educating children about body safety is in the best interests of all children. CSA is often reported in Nilakkottai Block. Child Voice recently filed two CSA cases in the court. Children are being abused because of lack of awareness, illiteracy and a very small number of CSA cases are reported.

Our aim is:

-Awareness generation among school children, parents and teachers about CSA

-Sensitize the community on the impacts of prolonged crime of CSA and health risks

-Developing child friendly environment at all the schools

-Issuing IEC materials to all the schools mills and other institutions related with children

-Baseline and end line survey training

-Developing and issuing of Information Education Communication (IEC) materials on child related Acts and POCSO will be developed using existing resources and experts available in the field of CSA

-Establishing child friendly atmosphere in schools mills and other institutions by equipping them to empower children

-Street play storytelling documentary films on CSA.

-Play therapy tool using and fixing complaint box at all the institutions.

-Capacity building to teachers local governance and line departments working for the welfare and development of children at block level.

-Sensitizing the community on CSA.

-Setting up of complaint box in schools mills and other institutions.

The project aims to address the lack of knowledge about CSA through multi-level training to various stakeholders and conduction of training and workshops at schools and other institutions to create awareness on CSA.

The impact of the project is to minimize the violence against the children or CSA in the target villages of Dindigul District. The project provides educational awareness, usage of help line along with ensuring the implementation of laws and policies. The children get lessons in self-defence for prevention of CSA. The community will support the victims through counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, psycho-educational intervention, medical and legal sensitization, gathering of evidence and examination of the victim. We also provide training on health care practices, counseling and police personnel etc.

50000 Children from 100 schools, 5000 mill working girls from five hundred revenue villages, 5000 teachers from five hundred schools, 5000 Community leaders NGOs CSOs, 5000 school management committee members are our direct beneficiaries. 5000 girls working in textile mills will be directly benefitted and they get basic knowledge on CSA and child related acts and POCSO school children parents and teachers about CSA.

50000 families of the said children plus 20000 families of direct other beneficiaries are benefitting indirectly. Teachers in schools and mill management committee are completely aware on CSA. There is an increased awareness about social aspects behind periods and legal supports and child related acts.