<p>Mangaluru Childline will organise a whisper campaign against child sexual abuse in Mangalore City Corporation limits in the month of July.<br /><br />Speaking at a consultation meeting organised by the Childline here at School of Social Work Roshni Nilaya here on Saturday, Childline Director Renny D’Souza said in the wake of increase in child sexual cases being reported, there is a need to involve members of civil society, police, department concerned in the campaign. <br /><br />As a part of the campaign, a team of 40 members will be trained in creating awareness on whom to approach when sexual assault cases are reported in the neighbourhood or in one’s household and the provisions under POCSO Act and quantum of punishment for the accused and so on. The 40-member team will each create awareness among five members of their family or friends circle, who in turn will create awareness among another five members. Accordingly, a chain will be created to create awareness among the civil society members. Through such a chain, it has been envisaged to reach out to atleast three lakh population in the MCC limits. <br /><br />The Childline Director said out of 26 child abuse cases received by the Childline in 2014, nine offences were committed by the family members, 12 by the neighbours and two by strangers. The whisper campaign aims to make people to raise their voice against such a heinous crime and ensure that such incidents do not occur in a civilised society. <br /><br />“Pamphlets, handbills on the POCSO Act will also be distributed among the general public. The campaign will ensure that there will be no workshop to create awareness. It will be a interpersonal communication. Below 18 kids will not be included in the campaign. However, awareness will be created to them in schools and colleges.”<br /><br />DK CWC Chairperson Nikesh Shetty said there is a need to work out modalities on what needs to be done when incidents are reported. A mechanism should be developed to help the child and the family. Stickers to create awareness on POCSO act and against child abuse can be pasted behind the driver’s seat in autorickshaws, so that it reaches our a larger section of the society. Geetha from education department said there is a need to create awareness among bus drivers and conductors as the teenagers feel inconvenience in buses with the indecent behaviour of fellow passengers. <br /><br />DCP Shekarappa and ACP Subrahmanya said there is a need to create awareness on childline and its activities, the need to raise voice against sexual abuse in schools. Through Deputy Commissioner and DDPI, a circular should be issued making awareness programme mandatory in all the schools including private schools. </p>.<p><br />Childline Centre Coordinator Sampath said that the Mangaluru childline has received 3,180 calls in the last one year, of which, two seeking medical help, 18 for shelter, 26 related to sexual abuse, 69 cases related to physical and mental torture, 105 related to school issues including that of corporal punishment, 24 on sponsorship and 511 calls seeking information on childline, child rights and so on. <br /><br />As a part of International Child Helpline Day, an awareness programme will be held at Panambur beach on May 17 between 5.30 pm and 7.30 pm. <br /><br /></p>
<p>Mangaluru Childline will organise a whisper campaign against child sexual abuse in Mangalore City Corporation limits in the month of July.<br /><br />Speaking at a consultation meeting organised by the Childline here at School of Social Work Roshni Nilaya here on Saturday, Childline Director Renny D’Souza said in the wake of increase in child sexual cases being reported, there is a need to involve members of civil society, police, department concerned in the campaign. <br /><br />As a part of the campaign, a team of 40 members will be trained in creating awareness on whom to approach when sexual assault cases are reported in the neighbourhood or in one’s household and the provisions under POCSO Act and quantum of punishment for the accused and so on. The 40-member team will each create awareness among five members of their family or friends circle, who in turn will create awareness among another five members. Accordingly, a chain will be created to create awareness among the civil society members. Through such a chain, it has been envisaged to reach out to atleast three lakh population in the MCC limits. <br /><br />The Childline Director said out of 26 child abuse cases received by the Childline in 2014, nine offences were committed by the family members, 12 by the neighbours and two by strangers. The whisper campaign aims to make people to raise their voice against such a heinous crime and ensure that such incidents do not occur in a civilised society. <br /><br />“Pamphlets, handbills on the POCSO Act will also be distributed among the general public. The campaign will ensure that there will be no workshop to create awareness. It will be a interpersonal communication. Below 18 kids will not be included in the campaign. However, awareness will be created to them in schools and colleges.”<br /><br />DK CWC Chairperson Nikesh Shetty said there is a need to work out modalities on what needs to be done when incidents are reported. A mechanism should be developed to help the child and the family. Stickers to create awareness on POCSO act and against child abuse can be pasted behind the driver’s seat in autorickshaws, so that it reaches our a larger section of the society. Geetha from education department said there is a need to create awareness among bus drivers and conductors as the teenagers feel inconvenience in buses with the indecent behaviour of fellow passengers. <br /><br />DCP Shekarappa and ACP Subrahmanya said there is a need to create awareness on childline and its activities, the need to raise voice against sexual abuse in schools. Through Deputy Commissioner and DDPI, a circular should be issued making awareness programme mandatory in all the schools including private schools. </p>.<p><br />Childline Centre Coordinator Sampath said that the Mangaluru childline has received 3,180 calls in the last one year, of which, two seeking medical help, 18 for shelter, 26 related to sexual abuse, 69 cases related to physical and mental torture, 105 related to school issues including that of corporal punishment, 24 on sponsorship and 511 calls seeking information on childline, child rights and so on. <br /><br />As a part of International Child Helpline Day, an awareness programme will be held at Panambur beach on May 17 between 5.30 pm and 7.30 pm. <br /><br /></p>
