‘Awareness key to curbing Pocso cases in rural areas’

Thiruvananthapuram: The rural parts of Thiruvananthapuram witnessed a rise in cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act in 2021 compared to 2022. The number of cases was more than double the number of cases registered in city limits.
The data shows that the total number of cases registered under the Pocso Act in 2021 was 319 (Pocso) in rural areas.
In 2022, the cases rose to 430. At the same time, in the city areas, 117 and 162 cases were registered under Pocso Act, respectively in 2021 and 2022.
Over 90 cases were already registered till March 31 in rural areas this year whereas 42 cases were recorded in the city limits.
The chairperson of the Kerala State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) KV Manoj Kumar said in most cases, the accused turn out to be relatives and neighbours.
“People interact more with each other in villages and ignorance of the law can also be a reason for the higher number of cases in such areas,” said Manoj Kumar.
Experts working for child rights have pointed fingers at the influence of drugs and lack of awareness about sexual atrocities against children for the rising Pocso cases in rural areas.
Thiruvananthapuram range DIG R Nishanthini said the number of police stations and areas covered in rural limits are higher than in the city limits.
“In rural police limits, there are 40 stations whereas there are only 23 in the city. This is a factor behind reporting more Pocso cases in rural limits. After all, more colonies, where social control is limited, are present in the rural limits than in the city areas. In such colonies, chances are high for reporting more Pocso cases,” said Nishanthini.