1,750 minor girls in Telangana victims of rape in 2022: CRY report quoting NCRB

Hyderabad: While the enrolment of girl children at the elementary level has skyrocketed in Telangana, the net enrolment at the secondary and higher secondary level has dropped considerably, according to a status report based on analysis of various government data sources and released by the NGO Child Rights and You (CRY) in the city on Friday.

As the country gears up to celebrate its girl children on the occasion of National Girl Child Day on January 24, the status of girls in Telangana falls far short of what it should be and remains a matter of serious concern according to CRY report.

The report dived into various government reports such as NCRB 2022, UDISE plus 2021-22, and NFHS-5 (2019-2021) and focused on three main aspects of the rights of the girl child, namely education, protection, and health and nutrition.

Net school enrolment rate at just 60%

As per the UDISE (Unified District Information System for Education) and 2021-22 data, in Telangana, while more than 94 per cent of girl children were enrolled in schools at the primary level, the Net Enrolment Rate (NER) was only 60 per cent and 42 per cent at the secondary and higher secondary levels, respectively.

Safety, a cause of concern

The report also flagged the safety and security of girl children, as cases of sexual offences against girls continue to make headlines. The latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Report (2022) shows that, in the state, over 1,750 minor girls were reported as victims of rape, and nearly 1,000 minor girls were reported as victims of sexual assault and harassment under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act.

Anaemia, teenage marriage widely prevalent

Data on the health and nutrition front showed similar worrying trends. The National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21) data revealed that, in Telangana, over 65 per cent of women aged between 15 and 19 years were estimated to be anaemic.

According to the same report, among women aged 20-24 years, an estimated 23.5 per cent were married before they reached 18 years of age, and were not physically and emotionally prepared to bear the burden of marriage and early motherhood.

Collective efforts from government and civil society needed

Elaborating on the findings of the status report, John Roberts, the regional director of CRY (South) said, “Although successive governments have taken proactive measures to improve the conditions of girl children, data reveals that the overall situation is far short of expectation, and demands for collective and concerted action.”

“It underscores the necessity to further reduce crimes against girl children, increase their enrolment in higher classes, prevent child marriages, and enhance their overall health and nutrition,” he added.

Calling for a collective effort from the government and civil society, John Roberts said, “The government has a pivotal role to play by prioritising girl child-centric policies, allocating adequate resources strategically and ensuring effective implementation.”

“Non-profit organisations, community leaders, and individuals can complement these efforts through targeted interventions and awareness campaigns. By collectively addressing challenges faced by the girl child, we lay the foundation for a more equitable and prosperous society,” he added.

Walkathon to EmpowHER in 4 capital cities

Meanwhile, in keeping with the role to be played by civil society, CRY is organising an event this Sunday – the ‘Walk to EmpowHER!’ – an awareness walkathon that will be flagged off at Necklace Road.

Similar events will be organised by CRY in the four capital cities of Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Chennai and Bengaluru covering all southern states.