NCPCR launches POSCO e-box for online registration of child sexual abuse complaints

The government today launched a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) e-box for easy and confidential registration of complaints regarding sexual offence against children.

The National Commission of Protection of Child Rights has launched an online complaint management system where the victim or the representative of the victim can report a case of child abuse while keeping the confidentiality.

After launching the e-box, Women and Child Development minister Maneka Gandhi, said that the idea of an e-Box came out of a police initiative in which physical complaint boxes were placed in schools.

"E-box is very simple to operate and will help to maintain the confidentiality of the victim and the complainant," added Gandhi.

According to Gandhi, a large number of incidents of child abuse involve close relatives and so they get pushed under the carpet.

MAKING IT EASY AND FRIENDLY

The POSCO e-box is a direct medium for reporting any case of sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. It is displayed prominently in the home page of NCPCR website, where the user has to simply press a button called POSCO e-box. This will navigate them to a page with the window having a short animation movie telling children that it's not their fault and the NCPCR is their friend and will help them.

The page will have an arrow button with "press here." After pressing the arrow user will be navigated to a page asking picture options. The pictures have various captions including playground, shop, road, school tuition, blackmail, school bus, vans, family members, relatives, others, Internet and phone.

The user has to simply select at least one picture option, fill the form and click submit button to register the complaint. Thereafter an acknowledgement of the registered complaint along with a complaint number will be displayed.

There is only an option of sending complaints in person, by post, through messenger or any other means to NCPCR office.

"The system will work in addition to the childline 1098," said NCPCR member Priyank Kanoongo.

Once the e-complaint is received from a child or the parent, NCPCR officials will take cognisance of the matter and will address the complaints in a highly confidential manner.

According to a study on "Child Abuse India 2007" carried out by the Ministry of Women & Child Development, about 53 per cent of children surveyed, reported having faced one or the other firm of sexual abuse. It has been found that in the most cases, the offender is a family member, near relative or an acquaintance.

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