HYDERABAD: While public response to awareness programmes taken up by the government is mostly lukewarm, it was a similar event on child sexual abuse conducted by the Rachakonda SHE Teams that exposed an 85-year-old retired serviceman’s involvement in the ghastly act.During an awareness programme held by Rachakonda SHE Teams at a school in Kapra on Tuesday, as many as six girls opened up with team members and revealed the continuous sexual abuse at the hands of an old man, who lived near the school. The accused has been arrested by the Kushaiguda police.
The octogenarian had allegedly sexually abused the six minor girls after luring them with chocolates. The SHE Teams police, along with the counsellors, spoke to the girls and based on their statements, the accused N Satyanarayana was nabbed from his house at Pradhampuri Colony in ECIL. Thorough investigation revealed that the accused had been abusing the girls for past one year.
“Satynarayana lured the children by offering them chocolates. He gained their confidence and then took them to his home, where he lives alone. Prima facie, it has been learnt that he had sexually abused six girls,” said Rachakonda SHE Teams additional DCP Saleema. The victims were sent to Gandhi Hospital for medical examination and are being counselled to overcome the agony. The accused has been booked under sections 342, 363, 366 and 376(2) of IPC and sections 5 and 6 (N) of POCSO Act, and section 3 (2) (v) of SC/STs (Prevention of Atrocities). He has been remanded to judicial custody, said Saleema.
‘Recalling an incident of abuse highly traumatising for kids’
Once a local police station receives a case of child sexual abuse, the survivors are, under the protection of a woman police officer taken through the medical test and then to the Bharosa centre for counselling. Depending on the abuse, the counsellors appointed at Bharosa initiate conversations with the survivors and then those close to them. In most cases, it is the family members. “Recalling the incident is highly traumatising for the children. So we give them time. We need to ensure that they are in a trusted atmosphere because along with physical pain, the children also go through a lot mentally,” said a senior counsellor from Bharosa centre.
The atmosphere they are subject to after the abuse need to make them feel safe and the counsellors focus on that. Once a case is booked under the POCSO Act, the legal process begins where the children are supposed to record statements for the police and also the magistrate. “We ensure that the survivors never have to face their abuser. A woman SI records their statement and when the trial begins, the survivors share their statement with the magistrate through video call from the centre itself.” added the counsellor. Children take weeks, sometimes months to cope and get back to their regular activities.
“Most times, they also do not know what happens with the child. We first talk about the abuse the child has gone through and then explain to them that the child needs their support. In some cases, where the abuser belongs to the same home, we shift them to safer places, like State Homes and hostels where they can continue their education,” the counsellor added.
Teach children about safe and unsafe touch
Alongside counselling for the children, the SHE Teams and several other NGOs have been working to spread awareness regarding safe and unsafe touch, not just among children. They are also including parents and teachers so that all the stakeholders are clued in and once a problem is identified, the survivors have the much needed support. She Teams are conducting awareness programmes across schools and colleges in the city. “We showcase short videos that talk about safe and unsafe touch, whom to report to in case they face abuse,” informed Rachakonda SHE Teams Additional DCP Saleema.
Only a few weeks ago, the Telangana Police had initiated an year-long campaign to fight child sexual abuse. On the other hand, under the Rachakonda Commissionerate, She for Her is a campaign which selects two volunteers from schools and colleges who become ambassadors to talk and report any crimes. They also follow up with these volunteers and on female faculty member through WhatsApp. Recently, Tharuni, an NGO in association with the British Deputy High Commission collaborated with 10 schools, trained teachers who educated children on child sexual abuse. The local police was also involved.