DNA: 2,50,000 street children in Mumbai: July 25, 2008

Seven out of 10 street children are abused, say child rights activists. What is even more worrying is that none of these children come out in the open about their suffering. According to a nation-wide study undertaken by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2007, 53.2 per cent children had faced one or more forms of sexual abuse. The study revealed that in 50 per cent of the cases the abusers were persons known to the child or in a position of trust and responsibility and most children did not report the matter to anyone.

The findings of the study point to a harsh reality: Despite their best efforts, parents are no longer able to protect their children from sexual predators, who in most cases have easy access to their homes.

“I am not surprised by these findings,” says Kalindi Majumdar, former vice principal of Nirmala Niketan and member, Maharashtra state monitoring committee under the Juvenile Justice Act. “Ironically, almost 90 per cent of the time the child is abused by a known person — it could be an uncle, cousin, neighbour, guardian or even a parent.”

The situation is worse when it comes to street children. With no one to safeguard their interests, they become easy prey to paedophiles. “Children on the streets are more vulnerable,” says Anjali Gokarn, executive secretary, National Association of Adoptive Families and member, Child Welfare Committee. They live alone and therefore become an easy target for unscrupulous elements. “Many street children are sexually abused,” she says.

Majumdar says there is not much that can be done about cases that are not reported. “However, when they are reported, children expect justice,” says Majumdar, who was among the few who spoke to the two boys who deposed in the court against Duncan Grant, Allen Waters and William D’Souza in the Anchorage Shelter paedophilia case. “I am sure the boys are disillusioned after the Bombay High Court acquitted the men on Wednesday. They decided to speak up, in spite of the fact that several boys told them that nothing would come out of it.”

It is when justice is denied that it hurts the most, say child rights activists. It also sends out a wrong signal – that child sexual abuse is difficult to prove in court and hence it is possible to get off scot-free.

A victim of child sexual abuse struggles to lead a normal life, say psychiatrists. “Every child reacts differently. While some become withdrawn, others become overtly aggressive,” says psychiatrist Ambika Bhatt.

“Many children become violent and even start sexually abusing younger children,” says Majumdar. “The two boys who deposed in court had a lot of anger in them. They wanted justice. They said they did not want others to suffer.”

However, a positive outcome of cases like the Duncan Grant and William Marty-Loscher Villie, is that an advisory committee has been formed at both the state level and the national level. This advisory committee is supposed to conduct surveillance, periodic inspections and submit reports on the activities of the shelters, orphanages and other institutions.