Safety of Children in India

Children are the foundation of a nation, yet many children in India continue to face risks that threaten their safety and development. According to the data of Government of India, there has been an increase in the number of child labourers from 11.28 million in 1991 to 12.66 million in 2001 and approximately 12 lakhs children are involved in the hazardous occupations under the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act. Crimes against children have also increased by 52.5% from 2012 to 2013, highlighting the need for awareness and protection of children.

In order to address these problems, Vikara: The Voice of Change Foundation, has successfully conducted on-ground drives and sessions to help children understand their rights and learn how to seek help.

We have so far conducted sessions on:

1. Child Rights Awareness 

Children in India are entitled to basic rights, ranging from Right to name and identity to protection from exploitation and abuse, our sessions help children understand their rights in a clear and simple manner.

2. POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012)

A landmark Indian law that safeguards children (under 18) from sexual abuse, assault, harrassment, and pornography. Educating children about such laws helps them understand what constitutes unsafe behaviour.

3. Good touch & Bad touch Awareness 

With the help of our awareness drives, children learn to differentiate between comforting and good touch that feels safe and bad touch that causes discomfort or fear. 

4. Anti-bullying Awareness 

Bullying affects the emotional, social and academic well-being of a child. We help children in identifying bullying and seeking help from a trusted adult.

5. Safe School Environment 

A safe school environment is where a student feels physically, emotionally, and socially secure allowing them to learn and grow. With the help of our sessions, we aim to create environments where students feel safe and protected.