KOCHI: Governor Sheila Dikshit believes that to protect children from abuse, it is the public who need to be more vigilant than the police. She was inaugurating the ‘Break the Silence’ campaign against child abuse, initiated by the Centre for Empowerment and Enrichment (CEFEE), at the Sacred Hearts Higher Secondary School.
“If children are not taken care of, there is no use of accumulating wealth. We must extend help to those who cannot defend themselves. The problem of abuse can be tackled only when we voice our concerns” she said. The campaign is aimed at creating awareness about child abuse, laws related to assault against women and children, and precautions and methods to prevent child abuse.
“As part of the campaign, if a simple 24-hr helpline number could be set up, it could help those in distress. Those in danger can call up this number and seek help,” the Governor said. CEFEE will also form a group of ‘Jagratha Volunteers’, consisting of students, teachers, residential association members, psychologists and others.
“As many as 25 volunteers from each higher secondary school(HSS) is what we are aiming for.
“Once we have these many volunteers from each HSS in the city, we will have a big group of ‘Jagratha volunteers’ who will work to break the silence of those being abused” said Mary Anitha, Chairman, CEFEE.
Demonstration of simple defensive methods was also presented during the event by Rensai Robert P X and team. The demonstrators showed different ways in which one could escape from various kinds of attacks.
School principal Paulose Kidagen, K S David, director of Central Institute of Behavioral Sciences, S Sreejith, DIG of Human Rights Commission, Anas, Pediatrician, and N R Menon, senior counsellor and chief patron of CEFEE were present.