Children speak, families struggle in Andhra PradeshCEFR B2
14 Jan 2026
Adapted from Karuna kumari Kandregula, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Prithiviraj A, Unsplash
India has strengthened child protection laws in recent years, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, which criminalises sexual abuse of children and sets child-friendly reporting and judicial procedures. Field reporting between July 2023 and November 2024 shows how these legal rules meet complex family and community life in Andhra Pradesh.
The reporting covered multiple mandals in and around Kakinada district, including Prathipadu, Yeleswaram, Gandepalli, Kirlampudi, Sankhavaram and Jaggampeta. Sessions were run by SafeTalks during community child protection awareness events, and follow-up conversations took place with children, adolescents, teachers, mothers, caregivers and adult survivors. These were informal interactions shaped by local language and cultural norms.
Findings show that school awareness programmes increased knowledge among children about personal boundaries and the difference between "good touch" and "bad touch," but adults were rarely given practical guidance. A 2024 study in urban slums of Kakinada district found some adolescents could identify abusive acts, yet none knew about the POCSO Act and most did not know where or how to seek help. Field reporting echoed this confusion about disclosure pathways and support mechanisms.
Many communities are organised around caste and kinship networks, so a child's disclosure often becomes a family crisis. Caregivers weigh social standing, financial dependence, marriage prospects and community reputation when deciding how to act. That uncertainty produced delayed responses, internal handling of cases, or silence. Formal reporting routes such as CHILDLINE 1098 and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights' e-Box exist, but awareness is inconsistent and some adults worry about confidentiality, police involvement, stigma or retaliation. Adult survivors described long-term effects; one woman said, "I wish my mother had responded differently and trusted me fully when I spoke." Ultimately, the reporting suggests that educating children is necessary but not sufficient: families need clear, accessible guidance on how to respond, where to find confidential support, and how to protect a child without causing further social harm.
Difficult words
- criminalise — Make an action illegal under criminal law.criminalises
- disclosure — Act of telling about an abuse or problem.
- caregiver — Adult who looks after and cares for children.caregivers
- confidentiality — Keeping private information secret from others.
- retaliation — Punishment or revenge against someone who reports.
- stigma — Negative social judgement when someone is blamed.
- kinship — Family relations and ties between community members.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could programmes better support families to respond safely when a child discloses abuse?
- What difficulties arise when caste and kinship networks influence decisions about reporting abuse?
- How can awareness activities include adults and caregivers, not only children, to improve access to help?
