New TN State Policy for Children: No Child to be Left Out

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin poured out his heart in an eight-minute poignant video message after two teen-aged school girls ended their lives, alleging sexual abuse. “Dear children, we have the responsibility to groom you with love and protection. I have the responsibility, not only as a Chief Minister but as a father to protect you. I beg you not to end your life. If a girl child commits suicide, it should be construed that she ends her life after blaming the entire society. Do not end your lives. You should live to fight. Only if you live, we could bring the perpetrators to book and punish them. Hence no one should end your lives. I am making this appeal as a father, as your brother and as a member of your family. We are here, I am here, the government is here (to protect the children),” the Chief Minister said in his heart touching video message. The Chief Minister was obviously heartbroken after a 17-year old class 12 girl committed suicide in Coimbatore on November 11, alleging sexual harassment by her teacher. Ten days later, another 17-year-old girl ended her life in Karur, also alleging sexual abuse by a perpetrator. The girl, in a note, said: “I should be the last girl who dies because of sexual harassment. I wanted to live on this earth for a long and help others, but now I have to leave the world so soon.” Moved by the two heart rending incidents, Mr Stalin, in a video message on November 26, marking the ‘International Day for the elimination of violence against women,’ said the reports of the girls ending their lives after sexual abuse made him extremely sad. “To tell you the truth, I am ashamed on learning that girls and women committing suicides after sexual abuse and violence. We should hang our heads in shame as this kind of heinous and disgusting incidents are taking place in the society which talks about values and tradition. There is violence and sexual assault on women and girls in schools, colleges, work and public places. While few incidents come to light, others are blacked out. Girl children fall victims to conscienceless perpetrators. Until we put an end to these kind of heinous acts, there is no point in talking about culture and tradition. There are enough laws to bring these culprits to book. I am confident that the offenders would be severely punished,” the Chief Minister said....