Answer

Introduction

Despite the stringent provisions of the POCSO Act, 2012 and subsequent amendments, child sexual abuse remains grossly under-reported. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of India’s child protection and justice delivery mechanisms. 

Systemic Bottlenecks

• Police Distrust: Families fear insensitive treatment, disbelief, or harassment by law enforcement, discouraging reporting.
• Delayed Justice: Prolonged investigations and trial delays reduce confidence in pursuing complaints.
  Eg: According to NCRB Crime in India 2024, a large number of POCSO cases remained pending for trial.
• Acquaintance Bias: Authorities often hesitate where the accused is known to the child, leading to compromised reporting.
  Eg: NCRB 2024 reported that in over 95% of POCSO cases, offenders were known to the victim.
• Poor Investigation: Inadequate evidence collection and weak investigation discourage victims from approaching the system.
  Eg: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports (2021) highlighted deficiencies in POCSO investigations.
• Institutional Fragmentation: Weak coordination among police, Child Welfare Committees, prosecutors, and support services creates procedural hurdles.
  Eg: The Supreme Court in Alakh Alok Srivastava v. Union of India (2018) directed all States to establish coordinated mechanisms involving Special Courts, CWCs, and support persons 

Social Bottlenecks

• Family Honour: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) observed that concerns over social disgraqce impede disclosure.
• Victim Stigma: Children fear blame, shame, or ostracisation from peers and communities.
  Eg: The UNICEF India–MWCD study on child protection identified stigma as a major barrier to reporting abuse.
• Patriarchal Norms: Gender stereotypes discourage speaking out, especially among girls.
  Eg: NFHS-5 (2019–21) reflected the persistence of norms normalising silence around gender-based violence.
• Dependence Fear: Economic or emotional dependence on the perpetrator deters reporting.
• Low Awareness: Children and caregivers often lack knowledge about abuse and reporting mechanisms.
  Eg: The NCPCR’s “POCSO e-Box” initiative was introduced to address limited awareness regarding reporting avenues.

Infrastructural Bottlenecks

• Support Deficit: Inadequate access to counsellors and support persons discourages disclosure.
• Court Shortages: Limited availability of exclusive POCSO courts increases delays and victim fatigue.
  Eg: The Department of Justice’s Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts was launched to address shortages of dedicated courts.
• Forensic Gaps: Insufficient forensic infrastructure weakens evidence preservation and reporting confidence.
• Training Deficits: Many frontline personnel lack child-sensitive handling skills.
  Eg: The MWCD’s POCSO Implementation Guidelines mandate specialised training for police, prosecutors, and medical officers.
• Rural Access: Remote areas face limited child protection services and reporting facilities.
  Eg: The Integrated Child Protection Scheme (Mission Vatsalya) seeks to expand child protection infrastructure at district and block levels.

Conclusion

Improving POCSO outcomes requires strengthening institutional trust, addressing societal stigma, and building child-friendly infrastructure through coordinated implementation, ensuring that every child can report abuse without fear and access timely justice.

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