Why in News
- The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2023 data shows a sharp rise in crimes against children in Assam, Rajasthan, and Kerala.
- The increase is significant compared to the national average rise of 25%, prompting policy, media, and governance attention.
- The trends highlight issues in child protection, legal enforcement, and reporting mechanisms.
Relevance :
- GS-2 (Governance & Social Justice):
- Child protection policies and mechanisms
- Legal reforms like POCSO Act, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act
- Role of state machinery in prevention, rescue, and rehabilitation
- GS-3 (Social Issues & Internal Security):
- Trends in crimes against children
- Reporting mechanisms and classification of offences
- Targeted interventions for vulnerable groups
Overall National Trend
- National increase in crimes against children (2018–2023): 25%.
- Focus States: Assam, Kerala, Rajasthan — all exceeding the national average.
| State | Average Cases (2018–2022) | Cases in 2023 | % Increase |
| Assam | 5,100 | 10,000 | ~100% |
| Kerala | 2,800 | 5,900 | 106% |
| Rajasthan | 6,200 | 10,500 | 70% |
State-wise Drivers of the Rise
Assam
- Main Cause: Crackdown on child marriage.
- Data:
- Cases under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006:
- 2020–2022: ~150 cases/year
- 2023: 5,267 cases
- Share of child marriage cases in total crimes against children: 52% (2023) vs 3–4% previously.
- Cases under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006:
- Insight: Rise reflects active enforcement, not necessarily a spike in incidence.
Rajasthan
- Drivers:
- Reclassification under POCSO Act, 2012
- Shifted from IPC Section 376 (rape) to POCSO provisions.
- Cases under Sections 4 & 6 of POCSO read with IPC Section 376: 3 → 3,500+ cases (2022–2023).
- Indicates more accurate classification, alongside a real increase in offences.
- Kidnapping and abduction:
- Cases under child kidnapping/abduction provisions rose sharply.
- Share in total crimes against children: >54% (2023).
- Reclassification under POCSO Act, 2012
Kerala
- Drivers:
- POCSO cases surge due to improved classification and reporting.
- Increase reflects both better detection and possibly a genuine rise in offences.
Broader Observations
- Reporting vs Incidence:
- Higher numbers may partly reflect improved reporting and classification rather than purely higher crime rates.
- POCSO Act 2012 Impact:
- Enhanced legal focus on child sexual offences.
- Uniform classification helps in policy formulation and tracking.
- Policy Implication:
- States need better child protection mechanisms, rapid response teams, and awareness programs.
- NCRB data aids in targeted interventions and resource allocation.
Key Takeaways
- Assam, Kerala, and Rajasthan are high-alert states for child protection interventions.
- Legal reforms like POCSO Act implementation improve classification, monitoring, and enforcement.
- Policy focus should balance prevention, rescue, rehabilitation, and reporting mechanisms.
- Data-driven approach is crucial to distinguish between reporting artefacts and real increase in crimes.
