Child abuse in Kerala seems to have reached epidemic levels with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan helpline reporting over 1,000 complaints since June 2011.
Likewise, the higher secondary helpline which became operational two months ago had received over 500 calls while the oldest helpline number, Child Line’s 1098, received over 2,000 calls just this month.
Two such calls, which were received in Malappuram last week, exposed two school teachers who had been regularly abusing a large group of children.
The school teacher in Parappanangadi had abused over 40 class five children. Another teacher in Cheriyaparappoor had been abusing 25-odd children between five and ten years old.
"Even more shocking is the plight of children abused by relatives," said Mr Mohsin, a social worker with Child Line.
There have been, however, no effective steps to help the children in need.
"In a number of cases, the child has to be removed from his or her home," said Mr. Mohsin.
"But there is a woeful shortage of rescue homes or short stay homes where the child could at least be temporarily lodged."
The Kerala Mahila Samkhya Society, a wing under the general education department which runs the SSA and Higher Secondary help desks, faces similar hurdles.
Child abuse victims who have to be shifted from their homes are now housed under mahila shikshan kendras (MSKs) run by the KMSS.
But the MSKs, which contain more than 30 inmates, are now cramped with 60-odd victims.
KMSS is now stretched beyond a point.
"The cause would be better served if child protection units are formed in every district,” said KMSS director Dr. Seema Bhaskar.