Inappropriate online content could be a cause of increasing numbers of crimes against women and children, Chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR), Agatha Sangma, said today.
Speaking to the media, Sangma said that the commission has been actively monitoring these cases and regularly holds meetings with District Child Protection Officers (DCPOs) to get timely updates. “From the commission’s side, we also inform the concerned SPs (Superintendents of Police) whenever such instances come to our notice,” she said.
Highlighting the broader implications, Sangma stated, “This reflects a larger problem we are facing as a society. The police and commissions will do their job, but families, teachers and communities also need to introspect. There’s a crucial need to evaluate how our children are being exposed to content on social media and the internet.”
Inappropriate content circulating online may be influencing behaviours and contributing to a distorted sense of right and wrong among the youth. “We have to be careful about what is being created and shared in the media and ensure children are not exposed to unnecessary or harmful information.”
Sangma also pointed out that increased reporting does not necessarily indicate an increase in such crimes. “These may have been happening before as well, but today with the ease of forwarding and virality, we’re more informed about them. It’s not always a surge in cases – sometimes, it’s just more visible now.”
Addressing the issue of underreporting, especially in cases of domestic violence, Sangma acknowledged that stigma continues to deter many women from coming forward. “That’s where we, as a society, must step in. Neighbours, relatives—if we know of an injustice, we must report it. We must build a safe and conducive environment where people feel supported and heard.”
On how the commission is tackling this issue in schools, Sangma said that the MSCPCR has been actively conducting sensitisation programmes. “We’ve done sessions on child sexual abuse, good touch and bad touch, domestic violence, and general awareness for schoolchildren. These are efforts to make them aware of the violations they might face.”
Regarding new initiatives, Sangma said the Commission is focusing more on awareness at the school level. While POCSO cases are handled directly by the police and courts, the Commission plays a key role in bridging communication between stakeholders through workshops and awareness drives involving teachers and families.
She also shed light on the reluctance of families to report abuse, particularly when the perpetrator is a family member. “There was a recent case where a mother refused to file an FIR because the accused was a relative. We must reject such silence. The Commission and police will intervene, but ultimately, the family and society must stop attaching taboos to such incidents. We must stop treating them as victims and instead treat them as survivors.”
