Tightening the noose

THE year 2018 began with the outrageous abduction, rape and murder of an innocent eight-year-old girl in Kathua in January, leading to an anguished public outcry. Unfortunately, as the year progressed, many more ghastly and horrifying sexual crimes against kids came to fore, shocking the nation with the sheer intensity and depravity of the acts. Many a shelter home and orphanage were found to be dens of sexual abuse of children by the very people entrusted with their care. Gurugram's paedophile and serial killer turned out to be one of the worst ever to be netted by the Indian law enforcement agencies. Caught in November for allegedly raping and bludgeoning a three-year-old child in Gurugram, the 20-year-old sexual predator is believed to have mercilessly violated and done to death at least nine children.

In such a scenario, it is in the fitness of things that the year ends with the tightening of the noose around the neck of offenders who commit heinous crimes. On Friday, the Union Cabinet cleared the amendments to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. Not only do the changes address the shortcomings in the original legislation, they also make it more robust and stringent. The amendments seek to make the law gender-neutral. It corrects a loophole as male sex abuse victims have been largely ignored as compared to girls. While harsher penalty sharpens the law’s deterrent edge, the introduction of the death penalty clause for aggravated offences is a knee-jerk reaction since such form of retributive justice has seldom reduced the crime rate.

What does help and is needed to protect our children is the beefing up of the legal processes so that speedy justice is given. Convictions hold the key. A national register of offenders is essential as it will strengthen the arm of the law. Tackling crime against juveniles is challenging, given the rise in its incidence. Consider the figures of one city, Gurugram: 141 cases were registered under the POCSO Act in 2017, but their number rose by 20 per cent to 181 this year. Going by this trend, the numbers of children violated nationwide would be staggering. We cannot let our kids suffer so much abuse.