Odisha police to launch awareness campaign against child abuse

Odisha police has decided to to launch a fortnight long awareness campaign against child abuse from May 28 as the state is witnessing rise in sexual assaults against minor girls, the police said.

The campaign will culminate at the state capital on June 12, said DGP R P Sharma adding that the awareness campaign would involve all official and social stake holders like NGOs and community based organizations.

"For this purpose 15 chariots will be flagged off from different parts of the state on May 28 which shall cover two districts each in 15 days and converge in Bhubaneswar on June 12 for a valedictory function," Sharma said.

The name of the chariots shall be 'Paree' and the theme of the campaign will be be 'Paree Pain Kathatiea' (a word for the little angel), he said.

The chariots would have a LCD screen in which audio- visuals would be played and leaflets and other printed materials distributed followed by community interaction.

This awareness campaign would be undertaken in technical collaboration with the UNICEF. Asheet Kumar Panigrahi, IG of Police, Headquarters, Odisha has been appointed as the state nodal officer to coordinate and monitor the statewide campaign, the DGP said.

Asked about the requirement of such campaign, the DGP said that an analysis of sexual assaults against minor girls revealed that in more than 90 per cent cases, the offenders were either relatives, acquaintances or belonging to the same community.

"Prevention of such crimes becomes difficult for police and therefore mass awareness on roles and responsibilities of family members and members of the community are of paramount importance," he said.