Flood of abuse stuns SSA help desk in Kerala

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When Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) set up help desks in schools, the Kerala government was unprepared for a literal flood of child abuse complaints.

Now, with help desks stuffed with complaints and the helpline number clogged with calls for help, the government has found that it has no effective mechanisms in place to deal with the consequences.

Over 400 cases of child abuse from all over the state have been reported ever since the help desks came into being two months ago. Unfortunately, there is just Mahila Samakhya Society (MSS), a wing under the general education department, to deal with the burgeoning complaints. And there is just a single helpline number for the whole state.

MSS has presence only in three districts but their counsellors now have to run everywhere.
“In spite of all their handicaps they have never failed to heed calls from children and teachers,’’ a senior SSA official said.

Child abuse victims who have to be removed from their homes are now housed in Mahila Shikshan Kendras (MSKs) run by MSS. But MSKs, which can house only about 30 inmates, are now cramped with 60-odd victims.

When a complaint is received, MSS counsellors visit the school, meet with the children, parents and teachers, and then inform the police.

‘’We’re short of staff and are being stretched. It’s impossible for us to reach everywhere,” said the KMSS director, Dr Seema Bhaskar.

“The cause would be better served if child protection units are formed in every district.”

Awareness training for teachers has also been abandoned midway. A team of dedicated psychiatrists and counsellors to deal with the emotional turmoil of both the victims and the paedophiles is not even on the agenda.