Child Abuse: What is normal in Ind is maltreatment in Norway

Hyderabad, Dec 1: Have you ever heard of anyone in India serving jail term for beating their own kids? The answer is no. Child beating sounds normal in India but in

it is a 'gross/repeated maltreatment' of

. Perhaps that is why, Norwegian authorities have charged an Indian couple in Norway with 'gross/repeated maltreatment' of their child by threats, violence and other wrong doing under section 219 of Norwegian law, according to reports.

The prosecution has reportedly proposed a sentence of one year three months for the mother and one year six months for the father of the child. According to reports, the couple have been remanded to custody over fear that they will evade prosecution by returning to India. The defence lawyers will appeal on Saturday.

Four days back Oslo police had arrested an Indian techie and his wife on charges of scolding their seven-year-old kid. V Chandrasekhar, an IT professional, and his wife Anupama, native of Andhra Pradesh, moved to Oslo almost 18 months back. Oslo authorities arrested the couple as they scolded their child Sriram for wetting his school uniform. Apparently, Sriram told his School teachers that his parents were harsh with him and scared to go home. The Norway Child Protective Service (NCPS) took the boy into custody and served notice to the couple.

It is not that abuse of children by parents or guardians is not an offence in India. But, such offences are hardly being brought to book in India. Assaulting of a child by a person who is in charge of or control of that child is an offence under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. The offender is liable to be punished with imprisonment which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.

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