NCPCR got 26 complaints of abuse, sexual harassment of kids at CCIs in 2018-19: Irani

Twenty-six complaints of abuse and sexual harassment of children at child care institutions were received in 2018-19 by the National Commission For Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), three times higher than the previous two years, Union Minister Smriti Irani told Parliament on Thursday.

In reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the Union women and child development minister said the apex child rights body received 43 complaints of sexual harassment or exploitation of children in child care institutions (CCIs) in the last three years.

The number of such complaints received in 2017-18 were eight while in 2016-17 it was nine, according to the data given by her. Out of 26 complaints received in 2018-19, the highest, nine, were received from Uttar Pradesh, the data revealed.

"(WCD) Ministry has been pursuing with the state/UT governments to regularly monitor the CCIs. Ministry had issued an advisory to the state/UT governments on the action to be taken in case of disruption to the life of children and any untoward incidence of abuse in CCIs," Irani said.