India's Children

With a population of over 1.03 billion people, India is the second most populous country in the world. There are an estimated 400 million children in this country, who are between the ages of 0 and 18 years old. It is a terrible fact, but over 26% of the country lives under the poverty line, which means many children are not being provided with their basic physical, emotional, or educational needs.

Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is a frightening reality for around 40% of Indian girls. Many are abused younger than the age of 16 years old. In addition to this, around 25% of boys in the country have reported sexual abuse as well.

Unfortunately, the children in India are often abused by close friends, relatives, neighbours, teachers, or “rickshaw uncles”. Up to 70% of abused children say their abusers were amongst the people they thought they could trust.

The sad fact is that many children don't come forward about their abuse, as they are often met with distrust and disdain by the community at large. Even if a case is detected, it is often brushed under the carpet in order to save the reputation of the family, school, institution, and child. 1

As is normally the case with child abuse, the figures vary considerably depending on various factors. True numbers become hard to estimate. However, out of all sexually abused girls in India , 25% have either been forced to have penetrative sex, give oral sex, or masturbate the perpetrator. One third of girls claim that the abuser was a father, grandfather, or male friend of the family.

47% of high school students have been abused (62% of who have been raped once, and 38% of who had suffered repeated abuse). The abusers cited varied, but it is shocking to discover that a percentage of these were teachers in the school.

Perhaps one of the most devastating effects sexual abuse has on young Indian girls is the loss of their virginity, which is equated with purity, family honour (izzat), and virtue. 2

Abused boys are left feeling dirty, and maltreated. Many of these children grow up to have severe psychological problems.

Child Abuse
There are many forms that child abuse can take, each one as damaging as the next to the child who suffers at the hands of their abusers.

Neglect is a common form of abuse in India . This is when parents or guardians show a wilful failure to provide for their children's basic needs, such as food, water, and medicines. However, there are a lot of places in India where people live in poverty, and cannot afford to look after their children. This is not wilful neglect; it is a terrible situation for a family to be in.

The children of India are also subject to physical abuse, where they are beaten, physically punished, and suppressed with violence. This form of abuse is very common with in family or child labour environments.

Mental abuse comes in the form of not educating a child, and denying them learning opportunities even though they are available. This is often closely linked with verbal abuse, which is when children are subject to character assassination. 3

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