Under reporting keeps crime down in Lakshadweep

KOZHIKODE: Crimes, especially those involving children, were hardly reported from the union territory of Lakshadweep. It still uses the Juvenile Justice Act that was introduced in 1986, and there is no updation for the 2015 Act. As a result only a low crime rate is recorded there, according to officials of the Childline India Foundation (CIF) that recently set up a unit in Kavarati. The CIF officially started its sessions in Lakshadweep from January 29.

The officials from Kerala and Tamil Nadu were part of the mission to set up the office in Kavarati. "For every reporting of crimes in other islands also, they have to travel to the headquarters in Kavarati. In that case, many crimes are being settled at the original place itself," said an official. The CIF team met the officials of various government departments, including Women and Child Development, madrassa and school teachers, doctors and ASHA workers. It was only recently that one POCSO case was reported from Minicoy island, the official added.

The union territory does not have separate platforms like Child Welfare Committee or Child Protection Units like in the other states. The Childline had been intervening in the issues where children have been deprived of their rights and offering sessions for the volunteers in schools. They had brought out several abuse cases where small children were targeted. By setting up a similar branch in Lakshadweep, they want to highlight the child rights violations on the island, said the official.