Safeguarding the Essence of POCSO: A Call for Comprehensive Awareness and Inclusion

Dear Editor, We read with great interest the study regarding awareness of the POCSO act in Chandigarh.[1] We commend the authors for undertaking this important study, but we wish to raise some points for consideration and share our perspectives. First, while the study employed a self-structured questionnaire with scoring criteria categorizing scores of “14–20” as adequate and “4–13” as inadequate, there is no mention of the questionnaire’s validation or a description of the scoring methodology. The absence of the questionnaire itself in the paper makes it challenging to assess the significance of each question and its efficacy in gauging awareness of issues such as sexual abuse among the public. Varied weighting of questions could potentially misclassify individuals as aware or unaware based on their score, which warrants attention. Second, the underrepresentation of the age group of 46–59 years, comprising only 11.1% of the study participants, raises concerns. While it is acknowledged that rapists are less prevalent in this age group, other offenders, such as pedophiles and sexual sadists, may still pose a risk.[2] Thus, there is a need for greater inclusion of middle-aged individuals in such studies, particularly considering that many sexual abuse perpetrators are family members who often fall within this demographic. Furthermore, the definition of literacy in the article as being a “10th class graduate” seems overly stringent. While the stipulated constitutional and census guidelines consider anyone above the age of 7 years to be literate if they can read and write in any language,[3] the study seems to consider otherwise or has not explicitly stated the definition of literate. Understanding that sexual abuse is punishable does not necessitate a 10th grade education, a point to ponder upon. While assessing awareness among adults is a crucial initial step, it is equally essential to evaluate awareness among potential victims for whom the POCSO Act was designed. Since there is underreporting of the issue,[4] children and young adolescents, often reluctant to disclose abuse, must be made aware of the protections afforded to them by this act and the avenues for seeking justice. Empowered with knowledge, victims can become frontline warriors against sexual violence. It is imperative that schools and colleges incorporate education about the POCSO Act into their curriculum. Children as young as six or seven should be taught about consent and appropriate boundaries to safeguard their well-being. Without proper education and awareness, even the most progressive legislation remains ineffectual. In conclusion, while the POCSO act represents a significant step forward, its efficacy hinges on the understanding and utilization by its intended beneficiaries. Without comprehensive awareness and education initiatives, it risks being merely symbolic. Sincerely, Shreya Bera, Pragya Upadhyay, Animesh Jain Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.