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CSED, a voluntary organisation was started in the year 1987 by a group of socially concerned
persons with varied skills, knowledge and experience to provide social education and
awareness to the people and there by ensure self-reliance in all aspect. Mr. C. Nambi is the
director of CSED.


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The Empowerment and Participation of Women and Children in south India is a project
which focuses on the women and children of the Arundhathiyar community. CSED through
this project educates the children and women about their rights and also help them in their
academics and encourage them to develop their talents. The project is funded by the KKS ±
BMZ Germany. The project covers 30 villages (5 cluster - 6 villages each) in Avinashi Block,
Tirupur district.

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h| To measure the awareness level of the children about child abuse.
h| To assess the occurrence of child sexual abuse at home, Schools and Community
levels.

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Child abuse refers to the intended, unintended and perceived maltreatment of the child,
whether habitual or not.

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ü| Physical Abuse
ü| Emotional Abuse
ü| Sexual Abuse
ü| Neglect

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Physical abuse is the inflicting of physical injury upon a child. This may include burning,
hitting, punching, shaking, kicking, beating or otherwise harming a child.

% *"+

Emotional abuse is also known as verbal abuse, mental abuse, and psychological
maltreatment. It includes acts or the failures to act by parents or caretakers that have caused
or could cause, serious behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or mental trauma.

. 

It is the failure to provide for the child's basic needs. Neglect can be physical, educational, or
emotional. Physical neglect can include not providing adequate food or clothing, appropriate
medical care, supervision, or proper weather protection (heat or cold). It also includes
abandonment.

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Sexual abuse is inappropriate sexual behavior with a child. It includes fondling a child's
genitals, making the child fondle the adult's genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy,
exhibitionism and sexual exploitation. Commission of a sexual offense with or to a child as
the result of these acts or failure to act by person responsible for the care of the child

h| Engaging in a sexual act with a child

h| orcing a child to perform a sexual act with an other
h| uaving a child view sexual acts
h| Commercial exploitation of a child

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09-02-2011 Naduvacheri 8 6 14
Ganeshapuram 6 3 9
10-02-2011
Ayeekoundan Palayam 6 2 8
17-02-2010 Kasikoundanpudur 7 5 12
  01 23 45

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 The target populations of the study were the children between the age of 11 and
15years (6th to 10th standard). The children are of the Arundhathiyar community.

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The acilitator1 observed that the children were very enthusiastic and were very
interactive with the acilitator. The acilitator first gave a brief talk on personal hygiene to
the children from class 1st to 10th. All the children put forth their knowledge and views on
personal hygiene. The acilitator with the help of teaching aids and chart imparted
information on the same.


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 After the session the student acilitator called the children from 6th to 10th class to form
two groups one of boys and the other of girls. The acilitator spoke about the various forms
of child abuses and their impact on the children. The children keenly observed and listened to
the acilitator. The acilitator explained physical abuse as ± being beaten, kicked and
punished. Emotional abuse as ± using bad words at children, insulting them, comparing them
with other children, not supporting them in times of need. Neglect/ Discrimination as ±
rejecting the child on the grounds like colour, caste, religion, status by the friends or the
teachers or the members of the community and not caring about the child in the family on the
basis on sex, intelligence etc. And sexual abuse as - inappropriate sexual behavior with a
child, touching or foundling private parts of the child, bad touch. The children asked the
following questions to the acilitators:

h| If the child has done something wrong and parents scold the child using bad words,
will this be considered as child abuse?
h| uow is neglect considered as an abuse?

The acilitator responded to the children as ± even though the child does something
wrong it¶s the duty of the parents to be a good role model, teach the child right things and not
scold or condemn them with abusive words. Neglect is a type of abuse because when the
child is neglected by the parents or the elders the child does not get the opportunity to grow
and develop and thus result in the negative upbringing of the child which can lead to many
more problems in the later stages of life.

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The children were explained about the method of filling up of these forms. The
facilitator asked the children not to write their names on the data sheet or make any kind of
markings on it. This was done to keep confidentiality of those children from whom data was
collected. The children were also promised that their identity will not be revealed/ exposed
anywhere else. The forms were filled in by the children; they were asked to retain the same
with themselves, for some time. The acilitator shared their own personal experience and
encouraged the children to share their experience if they wanted to. It was noted that 4 to 5
children came out with their experience and shared it with the acilitator and other children.
The acilitator then asked the children to make corrections in their data sheet if they wanted
to make. ew children corrected the data. These sheets were then collected by the children
and then handed over to the acilitator.

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Never Seldom Sometime Often Row Total
Place
Number Percentile Number Percentile Number Percentile Number Percentile Number Percentile
uome 3 6.98% 14 32.56% 12 27.90% 14 32.56% 43 100%

School 6 13.96% 13 30.23% 11 25.58% 13 30.23% 43 100%

Community 10 23.26% 14 32.55% 10 23.26% 9 20.93% 43 100%

  29 24:10% 42 52:19% 55 0;:;9% 53 01:9% 209 2%

The above table illustrates that there is not much difference between the often
occurrences of physical abuse at home and school which is 32.56% and 30.23% respectively.
The table also shows that the children face seldom physical abuse at home, school and
community in near about the same percentages.

"%%-+$++8"-% *"+ 

Never Seldom Sometime Often Row Total
Place
Number Percentile Number Percentile Number Percentile Number Percentile Number Percentile
uome 5 11.64% 18 41.86% 8 18.60% 12 27.90% 43 100%

School 6 13.96% 19 44.18% 8 18.60% 10 23.60% 43 100%

Community 8 18.60% 20 46.52% 9 20.93% 6 13.95% 43 100%

  29 24:15% ;1 44:29% 0; 29:5<% 0< 02:1% 209 2%

The above table shows that there is seldom occurrence of emotional abuse at the
home, school and the community at 41.86%, 44.18% and 46.52% respectively. The
community shows the greater percentage, which means that the children are being
condemned and insulted by the community people which is not a good sign.

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Never Seldom Sometime Often Row Total
Place
Number Percentile Number Percentile Number Percentile Number Percentile Number Percentile
uome 30 69.77% 9 20.93% 1 2.32% 3 6.98% 43 100%

School 15 64.88% 14 32.55% 9 20.93% 5 11.64% 43 100%

Community 20 46.52% 16 37.20% 3 6.98% 4 9.30% 43 100%

  3; ;:5<% 59 5:04% 25 2:<% 20 9:5% 209 2%

The above table indicates that neglect and discrimination is seldom at the community
and school level. And 11.64% of often occurrence of neglect/ discrimination is noted at the
school level. The table also reveals that children face neglect/ discrimination more in school
when compared to home and community.
 "%%-+$++8"-/" *"+ 
Never Seldom Sometime Often Row Total
Place
Number Percentile Number Percentile Number Percentile Number Percentile Number Percentile
uome 38 88.38% 4 9.30% 1 2.32% 0 0.% 43 100%

School 35 81.40% 6 13.95% 2 4.65% 0 0. % 43 100%

Community 29 67.45% 9 20.93% 4 9.30% 1 2.32% 43 100%

  20 13:1% 29 24:15% 1 ;:45% 2 :11% 209 2%

The above table shows that the occurrence of sexual abuse is more in the community
level. 13.95% of seldom occurrence of sexual abuse at the school is seen. The table shows
that the occurrence of sexual abuse is also prevalent at home.

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The following were the limitations of the study ±

h| The age and sex of the child could be included so as to get more clear inference.
h| The acilitator could have explained about the abuses in a more elaborate manner so
as to get more accurate data.

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The issue of child abuse cannot be taken lightly. The members of the family, school
and the community at large need to work together in order to eliminate child abuse from the
society. The following could be done in order to prevent child abuse:

h| Sensitise the community about the occurrence and impact of child abuse on the
growth and development of the child.
h| Educate the children to tell their parents if abuse takes place, especially sexual abuse.
h| Conduct programmes that help children to protect themselves from sexual abuse.


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The report was prepared by Pooja Kumari & Jakir uussain, under the guidance of
Mr. Baskaran, Coordinator, CSED.