Kohima: A local child counsellor in Dimapur is warning that abuse is not limited to poor or uneducated homes. She reports a steady climb in her caseload after six years on the job. She sees victims from affluent, high-profile, and influential families. Many children suffer from domestic violence or sexual abuse at the hands of people they know and trust.
These victims often live in homes where parents force children to pick sides during fights. Parents trade insults or openly flaunt extramarital affairs in front of their kids. The violence hits home harder for children with disabilities who cannot protect themselves. Child household helpers also face abuse that is frequently hushed up. The counsellor says, “Day-by-day, with increasing awareness, my case-load is increasing.”
She notes that government-mandated care is only a temporary fix. Most kids eventually return to their families. She wants a multi-pronged approach involving schools, churches, and neighborhoods. Leaders in villages and colonies need legal training to report violations effectively.
Churches could also do more. She suggests they reach beyond their regular members through home-to-home outreach. Furthermore, she argues that government failure drives rural children into vulnerable domestic work. If remote schools functioned properly, many of these children would stay home. She continues her work despite the heavy burden. Every impacted life remains her primary goal.
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