No Information On Increase In Child Abuse Cases Due To Covid Lockdowns: Centre

In a written reply, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said her ministry issued advisories for care and protection of children during Covid.

The government Thursday said it has no information as on date regarding data on increase in cases of child abuse due to the Covid-related lockdown situations and data on the increase in child marriage cases across the country due to financial difficulties caused due to coronavirus. In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said her ministry has issued advisories and guidelines to state governments and union territory administrations for care and protection of children during the pandemic. "As per information provided by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), there is no information as on date regarding data on increase in cases of child abuse due to the COVID-19 related lockdown situations and data on the increase in child marriage cases across the country due to financial difficulties caused due to Covid," she said. Responding to another question, Minister Irani gave data on the number of complaints received and disposed of by NCPCR during the last five years.