In Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, a psychological counsellor named S Sathyaprakash has been arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly sexually harassing female students at a government children's home.
The arrest came after the students complained about the counsellor asking them uncomfortable questions and making them uneasy. The Directorate of Children Welfare and Special Services reportedly appointed the accused to provide counselling to the students at home.
According to V Ezhilarasi, the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO), at least five students reported feeling uncomfortable with the counsellor's behaviour. The students stated that the counsellor asked them unsettling questions and behaved indecently. A case has been registered at the All Women Police Station in Nagapattinam based on a complaint from the superintendent of the children's home. Sathyaprakash has been booked under Section 12 (sexual harassment) of the POCSO Act.
Following the complaints, the accused was produced in the Special Court for POCSO Cases in Nagapattinam and remanded to Nagapattinam District Jail for judicial custody. The children's home, initially established in 2005 to support children impacted by the Tsunami, now serves as a residence for students with single parents, as well as victims of child sexual assault and child marriage.
At the directive of District Collector P Akash, officials have organized counselling and rehabilitation sessions for the affected students, involving the assistance of a psychiatrist, a counsellor, and a teacher. The plan also includes appointing female counsellors for girls and male counsellors for boys to prevent similar incidents in the future. The authorities have clarified that while there were initial reports of physical abuse, the concerns primarily revolve around psychological harassment.
In response to the unsettling incident, the government has taken proactive steps to ensure the safety and well-being of the students at the children's home, emphasizing the importance of creating a supportive and secure environment for the vulnerable individuals under their care.