Magnitude of the Problem (NCRB 2023 Data)

• Total Cases: A total of 1,77,335 cases of crime against children were registered in 2023, showing an increase of 9.2% over the 2022 figure.
• Crime rate: 39.9 per 1,00,000 child population in 2023 (up from 36.6 in 2022).
• Major crime heads:
  • Kidnapping & Abduction: 79,884 cases (45% of total).
  • POCSO Act offences: 67,694 cases (38.2%).
• State-wise Burden:
  • Madhya Pradesh: 22,393 cases (highest).
  • Maharashtra: 22,390 cases.
  • Uttar Pradesh: 18,852 cases.
• Forms of Crimes Against Children:
  • Physical Exploitation:
    • Kidnapping, abduction, corporal punishment.
    • Trafficking for labour, servitude, or organ trade.
  • Sexual Exploitation:
    • Child sexual abuse under POCSO Act, 2012.
    • Child pornography/CSAM, online grooming, sextortion.
    • Commercial sexual exploitation via trafficking.
  • Economic Exploitation:
    • Child labour (though banned, persists in informal sector).
    • Bonded labour (brick kilns, carpet weaving).
    • Forced beggary.
  • Social Exploitation:
    • Child marriage (despite PCMA, 2006).
    • Caste/gender-based discrimination, neglect, abandonment.
  • Cybercrimes
    • Online bullying, grooming.
    • Circulation of CSAM on dark web.
    • Identity theft and cyber fraud.

Legal & Institutional Framework:

• Constitutional Provisions: Art. 21A (education), Art. 24 (no child labour), Art. 39 & 45 (protection and care).
• Key Laws:
  • POCSO Act, 2012
  • Juvenile Justice Act, 2015
  • Child Labour Amendment Act, 2016
  • Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
  • IT Act, 2000
• Institutional Mechanism:
  • National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
  • State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights
  • Child Welfare Committee
  • Juvenile Justice Board

Government Scheme

• Mission Vatsalya (2022):Umbrella scheme for child protection.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): Gender equality.
• PM CARES for Children: Support for COVID orphans.
• TrackChild Portal: Digital monitoring of missing children.
• Cyber Swachhta Kendra: Monitoring online threats.

Challenges

• Under-reporting due to stigma and fear.
• Judicial delays: large number of pending POCSO cases.
• Cultural acceptance of child marriage & child labour.
• Weak enforcement in the informal economy.
• Limited counsellors, shelter homes, and child protection units.
• Rising cyber threats with low cyber awareness.

Way Forward

• Legal enforcement: Expand Fast Track Special Courts for POCSO.
• Technology: Use AI & ML for online monitoring of CSAM.
• Awareness campaigns: To challenge child marriage, child labour norms.
• Institutional strengthening: More CWCs, child psychologists, crisis centres.
• Community engagement: Panchayati Raj institutions, NGOs in child monitoring.
• International cooperation: With INTERPOL, UNICEF, ILO on trafficking & online abuse.