All schools, anganavadis must mandatorily display ChildLine Number. : DC

All schools, anganavadis must mandatorily display ChildLine Number. : DC

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Feb 4, 2014 :  Deputy Commissioner A.B.Ibrahim has stressed the need to  create an awareness on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

Presiding over the  District Level Vigilance Committee meeting on prevention of women and child trafficking, held at the DC office auditorium on February 3, Monday, the Deputy Commissioner also directed the authorities to ensure that  boards  displaying  the  ChildLine  No. 1098  are put up in all Anganavadis and schools in the district.

Expressing his concern over the oft reported cases of  sexual harassment of children and child trafficking, the DC said there is a need to sensitize the children in this regard and also to encourage them to complaint to the Helpline whenever there is any case of harassment.

Moses Jayashekhar, DDPI who also spoke, the education department is  trying its level best to sensitize the children and added  that all schools and colleges have been asked to mandatorily hold awareness programmes during prayer sessions.

Sampath, ChildLine Convenor said most of the complaints received are pertaining to children who have dropped out of school and sexual harassment. In January,  there were 54 complaint regarding school drop outs. Of these 24 children have been re-admitted, he said.

Asha Nayak, CWC Chairperson, who was also present  expressed her displeasure over the fact that only 5 per cent of the cases of sexual offences against children are reported.

Meetings of the District  Level Advisory Committee on implementation of Dowry Prohibition Act and  District Level Co-ordination Committee on  Prevention of Drug Abuse, were also held.

The DC directed the police not to reveal the identities of  victims of sexual harassment cases.

 MS Patil, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gracy Gonsalves, District Child Welfare officer, Hilda Rayappan of Prajna Counselling Centre and others participated.