Every child has a right to safety, yet many in Nagaland face abuse at home, school, or in the community. The long-term repercussion of such crimes is severe, affecting education, health, and social development. Protecting them is not optional; it is an immediate moral duty.
The recent report by the Superintendent of Police State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) show that offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act have doubled from four cases in 2024 to eight in 2025. The figures may appear miniscule, but they point to a dangerous pattern in a city already grappling with the complexities of migration, anonymity, and urban growth. Furthermore, there are likely several such cases that go unreported. Many of these unreported cases involve abuse by relatives or family members, making disclosure even more challenging due to social stigma, shame, fear, or pressure to protect the family name.
Understanding the law meant to protect
Enacted in 2012, the POCSO Act is India’s principal law to safeguard children below 18 years from sexual offences. It defines crimes such as penetrative and non-penetrative sexual assault, harassment, and the use of children in pornography. It prescribes stringent punishments, ranging from several years of imprisonment to life terms for aggravated offences- especially when committed by someone in authority or trust.
Crucially, POCSO ensures child friendly procedures- statements can be recorded at a place comfortable to the child, trials are held in-camera, and disclosure of the victim’s identity is strictly prohibited.
Reporting is mandatory for anyone aware of such offences- teachers, neighbours, or relatives alike. Failure to report itself is a punishable act.
In 2019, amendments to the Act made punishments stricter and extended protection to cover emerging threats like online exploitation. The law in essence, recognizes that protection is not just about punishment- it is about prevention, awareness, and the child’s dignity.
A worrying trend
The rise in POCSO cases in Dimapur should serve as a wake-up call. The city’s bustling markets, educational institutions, and transient population make it both a hub of opportunity and a zone of vulnerability. Children are exposed to strangers, digital spaces, and environments where supervision can be inconsistent. Furthermore, the concern is not just limited to Dimapur but statewide.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Nagaland recorded 141 crimes against children between 2019 and 2021. Earlier, Childline Nagaland intervened in 1,398 cases between September 2023 and June 2025, with the majority involving missing children and a significant number relating to abuse, including sexual and physical abuse. Behind every statistic is a child robbed of safety and innocence.
The doubling of POCSO offences suggests either a rise in incidents or improved reporting- possibly both. But given the social stigma surrounding such crimes, especially in conservative and close-knit societies, underreporting remains a major challenge. Many families still hesitate to approach the police, fearing shame more than seeking justice.
Why awareness is urgent
In many Naga households, conversations about consent, personal boundaries, or sexual abuse are considered taboo. This silence allows the abuse to go unchallenged. Educating children early and honestly equips them to navigate the world with discernment. Innocence is not lost through awareness, it is however, lost through ignorance.
Awareness must also begin in schools. Age-appropriate lessons about body safety, identifying unsafe behaviour, and knowing how to seek help are essential. Teachers and caregivers must be trained to recognise warning signs and handle disclosures sensitively.
Religious and community organizations, and student bodies play an important role in addressing child abuse. By speaking openly, they can change public perceptions and reduce the stigma that often prevents victims from coming forward. Community leadership in awareness and prevention strengthens protection for children.
Building safer institutions
Nagaland needs stronger, coordinated child protection mechanisms. The Child Welfare Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards, District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) under the guidance of Nagaland State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NSCPCR) and Special POSCO Courts must be adequately staffed and trained to ensure swift, trauma-free justice. Delays in trial or insensitive handling often retraumatise victims, discouraging others from reporting.
Police and healthcare workers need regular training to support child survivors with care and empathy. Setting up child-friendly desks or counselling space in every station can greatly improve how such cases are handled.
At the community level, every institution and workplace that interacts with children should follow clear safety protocols. Schools, hostels, and organisations must adopt child protection policies that include background verification of staff, ensuring responsible supervision, and confidential systems for reporting abuse.
Technology and New Frontiers of Abuse
In today’s digital age, the threat has expanded beyond physical spaces. Online grooming, sharing of child sexual abuse material, and exposure to pornography are escalating concerns. The POCSO Act already covers these, but enforcement lags. Parents must learn digital supervision, and authorities must act swiftly against online predators.
Collective responsibility
Laws, however strong, are only as effective as the society enforcing them. People must remember that child protection is not the government’s job alone- it is a shared moral obligation. Every adult, every institution, every societal-based group holds a piece of that responsibility.
The police and judiciary can prosecute offenders, but only families and communities can prevent abuse through vigilance and open dialogue. Refusing to speak about it only perpetuates it. Protecting children means listening to them, believing them, and acting decisively when boundaries are crossed.
A call for courage and compassion
It takes courage for a child to speak, and greater courage for a family to pursue justice in the face of gossip and blame. The least society can do is make that path safer and more dignified. POCSO’s protections must extend beyond lawbooks and into every institution, home, and community. Awareness must lead to action, so that no child grows up thinking staying silent is safer than speaking the truth.
Our children deserve protection. The doubling of POCSO cases is more than a statistic- it is a warning. If we fail to respond decisively, we risk normalising silence and neglect. Afterall, the measure of society lies in how it protects its most vulnerable.
Kilemjungla Lemtur
Tuesday, October 14, 2025