CHILDREN

Watched Bulbbul? The film, released in OTT recently, throws light on the all-pervasive male violence that existed a few decades ago and continues even today. Set in a fantastical background, the film is heart-rending, as it highlights the disastrous consequences of a deeply entrenched misogynistic and feudal outlook. But if you think that the film is just an anachronistic fictional tale, you couldn’t be more mistaken.  Consider this report from about a fortnight ago, in which at least five minor girls at a shelter home in Kanpur – who were being tested for COVID-19 – were found to be pregnant.…

The recently released Tamil film on OTT media, ‘Ponmagal Vandhal’,  draws attention to the issue of increasing incidences of child sexual abuse and ends with a strong message about Childline 1098 as well as POCSO, timing well with the increase in child abuse during the lockdown period.  With studies (Child Abuse Study 2007 by Government of India) showing that 1 in 2 children in India experience some form of sexual abuse, it is critical that measures for prevention of child sexual abuse be taken up not just by the government but also by other stakeholders at the ground level, which…

Child Sexual Abuse has profound consequences for the child. It is known to interfere with growth and development and has also been linked to numerous maladaptive health behaviour and poor social, mental and physical health outcomes throughout life. As adults, the abused face increased risk of domestic violence later in life, and could themselves be prone to violent behaviour and committing child sexual abuse.A longstanding social malady that needed intervention on a large-scale finally saw the light of day when the Indian government introduced a role play and activity-based module - titled School Health Programme – to be imparted in…

Between March 20th and 31st, the first week of the lockdown, around 3.07 lakh calls were received by the child helpline 1098, out of which 30% or 92,105 calls sought protection against abuse and violence on children. This impelled the Deputy Director of Childline India to suggest that the helpline be declared as an essential service during the coronavirus lockdown. Unfortunately, the lockdown has turned into inescapable prisons for children who were trapped with their abusers at home. The closure of schools as well as online classes also create scope for greater exposure of  children to online child sexual abuse. Another…

“Hello Teacher,  kis ka accha hain? Mera ya uska?” “Mera, Mera” (Hello Teacher. Whose toy is better - hers or mine?” “Mine, Mine”) Two paper frogs, one green and one white, talking to one another animatedly. The voices in the background belong to children. A joyful WhatsApp forward on a Sunday morning led us to pursue this heartwarming story of children in the bastis crafting puppets to beat the stress brought on by COVID-19. The lockdown has placed enormous economic burden on the urban poor. There is a palpable gloom produced by a normal way of life coming to a…

“Hello Teacher,  kis ka accha hain? Mera ya uska?” “Mera, Mera” (Hello Teacher. Whose toy is better - hers or mine?” “Mine, Mine”) Two paper frogs, one green and one white, talking to one another animatedly. The voices in the background belong to children. A joyful WhatsApp forward on a Sunday morning led us to pursue this heartwarming story of children in the bastis crafting puppets to beat the stress brought on by COVID-19. The lockdown has placed enormous economic burden on the urban poor. There is a palpable gloom produced by a normal way of life coming to a…

Translated by Sandhya Raju இந்தியாவில் கொரோனா தொற்று காரணமாக இறந்தவர்களின் என்ணிக்கை கூடி வருகிறது. இதன் தீவிர தாக்குதலை தடுக்கும் நடவடிக்கையாக ஏப்ரல் 14 வரை ஊரடங்கை அரசு அறிவித்துள்ளது, இதைத் தவிர வெளிநாட்டிலிருந்து வந்தவர்கள் மற்றும் இவர்களுடன் தொடர்பில் இருந்தவர்களை வீட்டிலேயே தனிமைப்படுத்தும் நடவடிக்கையும் தொடர்ந்து மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு வருகிறது. வீட்டில் அனைவரும் ஒன்றாக இருக்கும் இந்த தருணத்தில், அதுவும் தனிமைப்படுத்த பட்டவர்கள் வீட்டில் உள்ள பொழுது, குழந்தைகள் சரியாக ஈடுபடுத்தவும், பாதுகாப்பதும்  பெற்றோர்களுக்கு பெரும் சவாலாக உள்ளது. பாதுகாப்பு குறித்த பல சந்தேகங்கள் உள்ளன: தொற்று அவர்களையும் பாதிக்குமா? எந்த மாதிரி உணவு கொடுக்க வேண்டும்? ரேலா இன்ஸ்டியூட் , குழந்தை தீவிர சிகிச்சை பிரிவு மூத்த மருத்துவர் Dr ரவி தம்பிதுரை, மனநல ஆலோசகர் Dr ஆர் வசந்த், குழந்தை மனநல மூத்த மருத்துவர் Dr வி வெங்கட்ரமணி ஆகியோரிடம் குழந்தைகள் பாதுகப்பு குறித்த கேள்விகளை முன்வைத்தோம்.…

Sudha Rao is at her wits' end. Her six-year-old daughter Sharanya is staying home longer than normal and the mother has run out of ideas on how to keep her occupied. Painting, dancing, singing classes, summer camps - there is absolutely nowhere to go in these dangerous times created by the coronavirus outbreak. Sudha's story isn't unique, though. So we have put a list of things available for you kids to keep them engaged: COMMUNITIES / ORGANISATIONS 1) Bookaroolitfest An initiative on the International Mother Language Day 2020 YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch 2) Kathalaya's International Academy of Storytelling YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch 3) Delhi Storytellers' Tribe A…

The death toll in India from coronavirus infection stands at five, as of now. The severity of the virus prompted state governments across the country to order closure of educational institutions and encourage parents to work from home, apart from home quarantine for those who returned from abroad or had come in contact with infected persons. But as families spend more time together at home, especially those under quarantine, parents are having a tough time keeping children engaged. And more importantly, safe. Questions with regard to the safety of children are many: Are they more vulnerable to the infection? What…

These are difficult times, and the world around us seems headed towards a dystopia of sorts. As discussed in our earlier interview with Dr Kalyanasundaram, Bengaluru-based Consultant Psychiatrist and an Honorary Adviser to the Bengaluru Branch of Richmond Fellowship Society, the risk of mental health issues has increased sharply. Indeed, we are already beginning to see signs among people caught in the situations created by the outbreak of coronavirus – corporate professionals struggling to get all work done from home, parents trying to keep their kids occupied and entertained all day, caregivers trying to explain the situation to the most…