-Dipta Joshi
Crimes against children increased by 16.2 percent between 2020 and 2021 with about 1.5 lakh cases registered across all Indian states and Union Territories during the period.
According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the total countrywide crime rate against minors went up from 28.9 percent in 2020 to 33.6 percent in 2021. Measured by the number of cases registered per lakh population, the crime rate includes incidences of child sexual abuse, child marriage, murder and abduction etc.
In 2021, as many as 53,874 incidents were reported under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO), 2012 as compared to the 47,221 cases reported in 2020.
Amongst the states, Madhya Pradesh recorded the maximum number of crimes against children with 19,173 cases being filed. Maharashtra at 17,261 cases and Uttar Pradesh at 16,838 cases recorded the second and third highest number of crimes. While all north-eastern states recorded lower crime rates, Nagaland reported the lowest number of crimes against children in the country. It registered 51 cases under the Indian Penal Code besides the special and local laws.
Amongst southern India, Karnataka reported the highest number of crimes at 7261 cases followed by Tamil Nadu at 6,064 cases, Telangana at 5,667 cases and Andhra Pradesh at 2,669 cases.
Delhi recorded the highest number of crimes against children (7,118) amongst Union Territories. Other cities to record a high crime rate during the period were Mumbai at 2,762 cases followed by Bengaluru at 1,342 cases and Indore at 1,081 cases.
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