The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to the Pocso Act, including the death penalty for aggravated sexual assault on children and providing stringent other punishments for other crimes against minors, officials said.

The proposed changes to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act also provide for fines and imprisonment to curb child pornography.

These changes will help deter the rising trend of child sex abuse in the country, the government said in a statement.

“It intends to protect the interests of vulnerable children in times of distress and ensures their safety and dignity. The amendment is aimed at establishing clarity regarding the aspects of child abuse and punishment thereof,” it said.

“Sections 4, 5 and 6 (of the act) are proposed to be amended to provide (the) option of stringent punishment, including (the) death penalty, for committing sexual assault and aggravated penetrative sexual assault crime on a child.”

Amendments have been proposed also to Section 9 to protect children against sexual offences during natural calamities, and against being administered hormones or other chemical substances to hasten their sexual maturity for the purpose of penetrative sexual assault, the statement said.

Sections 14 and 15 of the Posco Act, 2012, “are also proposed to be amended to address the menace of child pornography”, it added.

“It is proposed to levy fine for not destroying or deleting or reporting the pornographic material involving a child with an intention to share or transmit it.”