Question : Sexual Exploitation-Abuse against Children

(a) whether a large number of children in the country are victims of sexual exploitation/abuse especially girls on internet and if so, the details thereof indicating the number of cases of sexual exploitation/abuse against children reported in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(b) the number of complaints received through online complaint box namely POCSO e-box during the said period and the action taken thereon;

(c) whether the Government has launched/proposes to launch National Alliance in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to set up child tribunal in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(e) the details of schemes undertaken under Integrated Child Protection Policy, 2015 and funds allocated/released and utilised thereunder during the said period, State/UT-wise including West Bengal; and

(f) the further action taken by the Government to protect children from sexual exploitation/abuse in the country, expedite the disposal of such cases and create public awareness against it?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

(a) As per National Crime Records Bureau, this specific information is not maintained by the Bureau. However, State/UT-wise cases registered, cases charge-sheeted, cases convicted, persons arrested, persons charge-sheeted and persons convicted under total POCSO during 2014-2016 is enclosed as Annexure-I.




(b) Since the inception of POCSO e-box total 1289 hits were made on this facility till 18.01.2018. Out of these 1289 hits, only 67 cases were found to be complaints related to the offences covered under POCSO Act, 2012 and 48 complaints have since been disposed off.

(c) The Ministry of Women and Child Development organized a day-long consultation on 16th January, 2017 with all stakeholders including Ministries of Home affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Department of School Education and Literacy, National Commission for protection of Child Rights and civil society organizations working on the issue to brainstorm on the process of forming a National Alliance against online child sexual abuse and exploitation.

(d) No.

(e) This Ministry is executing a scheme namely Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) (now “Child protection Services”) for providing financial assistance to State Governments/UT Administrations, on sharing pattern, with the objective to create a safe and secure environment for overall development of children in need of care and protection. These include placement in Children Homes if there is no family to look after the said child, or sponsorship support if the child is living with family (financial support for education) to ensure that their education can continue in an undisturbed manner. Once placed in a children’s home the said child would receive multiple kinds of care and support including food, education, medical attention, vocational training, counselling etc. so that despite their disturbed family circumstances they can continue to develop to their full potential. The details of fund released and utilized by State Govt./UT Administrations including West Bengal during the financial year 2015-16 and 2016-17 under ICPS are enclosed at Annexure-II.

(f) The Government has been regularly creating public awareness against child abuse in the country through print and electronic media from time to time and this is a continuous process. The issue has been flagged in various national consultations/conferences held with different stakeholders.

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