Crimes against children rise 24%

NewDelhi:India is fast earning itself the dubious distinction of being a country unsafe for its children with an alarming 24% increase in crimes against children in 2011 compared to the previous year. Nearly 33,100 cases were reported in 2011 against 26,694 cases during 2010.      Uttar Pradesh accounted for 16.6% of the total crimes against children in 2011, followed by Madhya Pradesh (13.2%), Delhi (12.8%), Maharashtra (10.2%), Bihar (6.7%) and Andhra Pradesh (6.7%).      Maharashtra accounted for 74% of the total 27 cases of 'buying of girls for prostitution' while West Bengal accounted for 77% of the total 113 cases of 'selling of girls for prostitution'. 43% rise in abduction of kids, rape cases up 30%  New Delhi: The year 2011 witnessed a 43% increase in cases of kidnapping and abduction of children, while rape cases increased by 30%.      UP and Delhi together accounted for 47.6% of all kidnappings and abductions of children while Madhya Pradesh, UP and Maharashtra together accounted for 44.5% of child rape cases in 2011.      Foeticide cases increased by 19% over 2010 to 132 cases, of which the highest was registered from Madhya Pradesh, followed by Chhattisgarh and Punjab. These three states together reported 56% of all foeticide cases registered in 2011.      These are the findings of the latest 'Children in India 2012' report brought out by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation.      The report said, "The analysis of crime and children as presented here, putsforward a few upsetting revelations about the child victims as well as child offenders, which points out to the vulnerable conditions of children that need to be addressed urgently especially poverty."      India's chief statistician T C A Anant said in the report, "Even today, after six decades of independence, the condition of children remains a cause of concern in the country."