Mizo 2nd highest in child abuse next to Asom: Survey

Aizawl, Apr 23: Asom topped the list in child abuse cases followed by Mizoram, according to a survey report.

The Study on Child Abuse: India 2007, says about 84.64 per cent children in Mizoram had been physically abused, next to Asom's 84.65 per cent.

Of them 35 per cent of the physically abused children belonged to 15-18 age group in Mizoram. However, as 5-12 age group was concerned, Mizoram was at the bottom in child abuse cases, only 33.83 per cent.

The survey, sponsored by Ministry of Women and Child Development, highlighted that most of the child abuses in Mizoram came from parents. "About 61.97 per cent of the child abuses are received from their own parents," it said.

In corporal punishment, Mizoram was again second only to Asom, with 90.86 per cent students having received corporal punishments.

More shockingly, girl students received more punishments than their male counterparts, the report said.

However, in "severe forms of sexual abuse," Mizoram has only 16.20 per cent cases while Asom has 52.27 per cent, the highest in India. But, 54.75 percent of Mizoram's children have suffered "Other forms of sexual abuses," next to Asom.

Mizoram has also the highest in "forceful kissing," with as many as 86.18 per cent of its female children having been subjected to this abuse. Mizoram's teenage girls were also very vulnerable to "sexual advances during travel situation", with 57.58 per cent, the highest in India.

In "Sexual advances during marriage situation" and "exposing children to pornographic materials," mizoram was at the top, the survey said.

However, the finding has totally shocked the concerned people working in this field as they claimed no such survey ever taken place in Mizoram.

"We asked among ourselves from where did the survey people got such information, none of us knew that. I did not know when the survey was conducted. I am very shocked the finding, and I wonder could this be true," commented Lalengruall Salio, chairman of the state's Child Welfare committee.

The Aizawl-based Centre for Peace and Development and Human rights and Law Network, who are supposed to be aware of such survey, said they have no such knowledge.

UNI