Unicef flags silence on violence

Hyderabad: Violence is unfortunately an integral part of many children growing up in India but there was a “culture of silence” on this issue, a study published earlier this month by Unicef has reported.

The study collected survey data from 966 children aged 15 years from TS and AP and also by conducting qualitative case studies on 50 of these children. The data was generated by Young Lives, a research programme of Oxford University.

Two major concerns flagged by the report were how violence is widely prevalent as a form of “disciplining” children, especially boys and how violence is seen as an ‘acceptable way’ to teach a lesson to girls who “transgress” societal gender norms.

The study found that 67 per cent boys and 51 per ccent girls reported being beaten or physically hurt by teachers in school as a consequences of poverty.

Due to poverty, many children support their parents financially by working, miss school and fail to complete homework. Poverty also renders many unable to pay fees on time or afford uniforms. These were main reasons given by children on why they got beaten at school.

There is a huge difference when it comes to experiencing violence at home. While 59 per cent boys reported getting beaten up by family members, it was 26 per cent among girls.

Violence at homes is often an inter-generational cycle, reported the study, which means that using violence as a tool to discipline children is passed on from one generation of parents to another.

A main reason on girls experiencing violence at home is not discipline but a corrective measure to ensure that the girl does not spoil her “reputation” by acting outside gender norms set by society, like not talking to boys.

The study listed harassment at the hands of boys as other major violence that girls experience. The study also found that violence experienced by children did not defy any economic or social norms.