Mumbai, India: This Ganeshotsav, as lakhs of devotees gather across Mumbai and Raigad districts to worship the Lord of Knowledge, a unique form of wisdom will be shared—one that has the power to transform the lives of countless children.
Arpan – one of India’s largest non-profit working on Child Sexual Abuse prevention and intervention, in collaboration with VP Police, Raigad Police Department and WCD Raigad*, has rolled out a unique campaign wherein over 250 Ganpati pandals and key visarjan routes in various locations across Raigad district and VP Rd. Mumbai, will be transformed into spaces for spreading knowledge on Child Sexual Abuse prevention.
This initiative aims to empower children with the essential knowledge and skills to actively participate in their own safety, while simultaneously raising awareness among adults about protecting children against the risks of Child Sexual Abuse.
Child Sexual Abuse is a horrific crime, with 187 cases of CSA reported daily and over 97% of the offenders known to the victim (NCRB 2022). Hence, the campaign focuses on Prevention – the key to safeguarding children from abuse, by promoting Personal Safety Education (PSE). PSE empowers children to recognise unsafe situations, refuse them and seek support in case of violation.
For the millions of parents and children visiting the pandals, the campaign communicates the 5 key PSE messages, using the story of a character called Pinky. These messages will be placed at strategic locations in the pandals where devotees line up for Darshan, so they can read and imbibe the messages. Each banner features a QR code, which will give them access to the entire story of Pinky for free on Arpan’s e-learning site, making learning accessible for parents and children as they are waiting in line. The story has been co-created with the support of the children’s magazine Tinkle.
Mrs. Aanchal Dalal, Superintendent of Police, Raigad cites: “We are happy to be associated with Arpan’s powerful campaign about personal safety awareness at Ganpati Pandals this year. It is critical to communicate to society that Child Sexual Abuse can be prevented if parents and children are aware. As protectors of the law, we whole-heartedly support their endeavour.”
Mr. Shrikant Hawale, Women and Child Development Dept. Officer, Raigad, says “Children are our future and as adults it is our responsibility to safeguard them. Child Sexual Abuse can traumatise them for life, hence it is important to prevent it, which can happen through teaching children personal safety skills and making adults aware. WCD Raigad supports Arpan in their campaign by ensuring that the key personal safety messages reach maximum parents and their children at the Ganesha pandals”.
“At Arpan, we envision a world free from Child Sexual Abuse. This is only possible when we work together to keep children safe from sexual abuse. We are extremely appreciative of The Mumbai Police who have always been forthcoming in their support to Arpan’s endeavours. We are grateful to the VP Rd Police (Mumbai), Raigad Police and WCD, Raigad for this collaboration. With this partnership, we are committed to creating a protective environment, by empowering adults to stay vigilant and actively fulfill their role in safeguarding children. By equipping children with the knowledge and skills to identify safe and unsafe touches and seek help when needed, we aim to build a stronger, safer community for every child.”, says Pooja Taparia, Founder and CEO of Arpan.
Ganeshotsav celebrates Lord Ganesha as the deity of wisdom and knowledge. What better moment to share the priceless wisdom of personal safety with children and families? This year, Arpan’s initiative, backed strongly by VP Rd (Mumbai) Police, Raigad Police Department, and WCD Raigad, ensures that the Ganesh festivities stand for devotion and also ignites a powerful movement toward a safer, more secure society for every child.
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