Spectre of abuse looms over 11.72 lakh families in Kerala, shows survey

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A survey conducted by the social justice department (SJD) showed that there are 11,72,433 families in Kerala where children are vulnerable to various kinds of abuses.

The survey was conducted on the basis of the report given by Shafeeq committee that was constituted by the government in the name of a 10-year-old boy who was assaulted by parents in Idukki six years ago. The findings of the survey assume importance in the wake of increasing incidents of cruelty towards children, the latest one being the case of a seven-year-old boy from Thodupuzha.



Vulnerable families, categorized in the survey, include families having step-parent, single-parent families, families with a history of domestic violence, families with an alcoholic parent, families with a parent having criminal background, families with siblings having criminal background and families that are economically backward.

The survey, undertaken by anganwadi workers as part of their annual door-to-door survey of families in state, found that maximum number of vulnerable families were in Thiruvananthapuram. The survey also found that there are 32,654 families in which children have a step-parent, while there are 94,685 families in which parents are alcoholics. Most common incidents (of cruelty to children) were reported from families in which parents are alcoholics or kids living with step-parents.

"The Shafeeq committee report had given detailed recommendations on how to map and find a solution to rescue vulnerable children. We will give a set of detailed recommendations to the government based on findings of the survey and the committee's recommendations," said women and child development department director Sheeba George.

The survey found that Thiruvananthapuram accounted for the maximum number of vulnerable children in all categories. There are 4,001 families in the capital in which both parents have remarried, thus increasing the risk of vulnerability. The capital also houses the highest number of families where the parents are alcoholics, which is double (18,985) the number in Ernakulam (9,956) in the same category.

At the same time, families in which there are siblings with a criminal record are the least and under this category, Wayanad reported only 21 cases.

Child abuse was defined as causing physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, exploitation, or negligent treatment of a child that endangers the child's physical or emotional development for the study.