Cabinet approves amendments in POCSO 

NP NEWS ONLINE – On 28^th December, the cabinet has approved amendments to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The amendment aims at introducing more stringent punishments for sexual crimes committed against children. The decision comes in the wake of the rising number of crimes against children being reported from across the country.

In some previous articles we have mentioned, Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Maneka Gandhi had proposed the amendments in the aftermath of the horrific Kathua gangrape and murder case which had sparked countrywide outrage. Citizens from all walks of life had taken to the streets in protest demanding the immediate arrest of those accused in the murder and gang-rape of a 7-year-old girl.

In a video statement issued by her, Gandhi said that her ministry sought a death penalty for rape of children under 12 years of age. In addition, a minimum jail term of 20 years as punishment for someone accused of raping a woman under 12 years of age has also been introduced as part of the amendment.

In a press conference, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad announced in Delhi that the government have approved the death penalty in aggravated sexual offences under the POCSO Act, said Prasad. A similar decision was taken by the Madhya Pradesh state government earlier this year which announced the death penalty as punishment for sexual crimes against children.

In last few years, India has seen worst sexual assault cases. The number of cases registered for child abuse raised from 8,904 in the year 2014 to 14,913 in the year 2015, under the POSCO Act. Sexual offences and kidnapping account for 81% of the crimes against minors. Preventive measures designed to ward off strangers (installing CCTV cameras and providing self-defence training) will be ineffective, as children do not know how to ward off unwanted sexual advances from their known relatives, acquaintances or workplace seniors, who they trust. POSCO: State wise cases – Uttar Pradesh led the highest number of child abuse cases (3,078) followed by Madhya Pradesh (1,687 cases), Tamil Nadu (1,544 cases), Karnataka (1,480 cases) and Gujarat (1,416 cases).

We can just hope that the new amendment brings in some drastic changes to improve the condition.