The health of a society can be gauged by the condition of its children. The National Crime Records Bureau report on crimes against children shows that in 2022 sexual crimes against children increased by 8.7% from 2021 and since 2014 by 81%. Like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the increase in West Bengal has been 5%. This is a shocking increase, apart from the fact that the rape of a child in itself is a shocking crime. The worst indicator is that the home is where most rapes take place, followed by childcare institutions and schools. Crimes at children’s workplaces follow these; earlier the workplace was thought to be the most likely site for such crimes. The criminals are mainly relatives, followed by parents and then caregivers. Can anything be more painful? The safe haven of the home is where such crimes occur the most, and the perpetrators are adults with whom children should feel the safest. The helplessness, betrayed trust and psychological damage of children can barely be imagined. Worse, children may be led to believe that this is a form of ‘love’ that must be kept secret. Fear or misplaced trust in the perpetrator may prevent children from complaining. Adults, such as a parent, may refuse to believe the child or deliberately turn a blind eye.

The law against child abuse and the juvenile justice system may have helped awareness, but the increase in crime shows indifference to these. But the ease of placing a complaint in the central portal may have brought about an increase in complaints. Experts have pointed out that 50% of the perpetrators are paedophiles. Labelling this a disease would lighten the criminal aspect, hence this should be seen as a form of sexual aberration. It is important to recognise its signs inside the home to protect children. The crucial issue here is that responsible adults must be willing to see the danger and be alert. The conditions surrounding the crime, domestic or professional, are complicated by the nature of relationships between adults. Besides, there is little awareness in India about paedophilia or the ability to distinguish it from other forms of sexual domination and coercion that lead to the rape of older girls and women. But the NCRB report has made this identification and understanding urgent.