Expressing concern at the increasing number of child pregnancies, with at least some cases involving close relatives, the Kerala High Court observed that it is time the authorities took a relook at the sex education being imparted in schools.
"The easy availability of porn on the internet can mislead the juvenile minds of youngsters and give them wrong ideas. Educating our children about the safe use of internet and social media is absolutely essential", observed the court. The court also noted that another bench, which has been considering the issue, had observed that the state's educational machinery has fallen woefully short in imparting the requisite awareness to young children about the consequences of sexual overtures.
The court had made the observations while permitting to terminate a 30-week pregnancy of a minor rape victim. The court said the incredulous but harsh truth is that the girl was impregnated by her sibling, who is also a minor.
The petitioner's counsel requested the court to consider the physical strain being suffered by the young girl and the possible social ostracising she and her family will have to face. The court had recently granted permission to terminate the pregnancy of a 15-year old girl.
In this present case, after considering the physical difficulties, mental agony and the medical board's opinion, the court allowed the plea for medical termination of the pregnancy.
The court permitted the petitioner - the parent - to get the girl's pregnancy terminated at a government hospital. The petitioner should file an appropriate undertaking, authorising them to conduct the surgery at her risk. "If the neonate is alive at birth, the hospital shall ensure that it is offered the best medical treatment available so that it is offered the best medical treatment available so that it it develops into a healthy child", the court said.
Courtesy. The NIE
My take
This unwanted trend needs to be arrested at all costs. There are many parents who've expressed concerns about the negative aspects of internet and as to how it would affect their children whenever I've pushed across the inevitability of attaining digital literacy!
To them I narrate what my grandfather, PN Panicker had told me quite a while back on reading and he had told this to me when I tried to hide a magazine, the 'Cinema Maasika' that I was browsing through (I didn't want him to know that I was indulging on frivolous books!). And I quote, "Monay, no book is bad, every material that you read gives you knowledge. Over a period of time, you'll come to realise that there are information that are required for you and many other you do not require. That will answer your question as to which books should I read and which should I discard".
I extrapolate this logic in the context of digital literacy. One might browse porn sites and other discardable material and will, over a period of time, realise as to what should be assimilated and what should be dumped.
I hope I'm on the right track.
Tailpiece.
Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. Suma kunjamma goes to the temple and she'd to pick up an auto rickshaw from the stand.
A boisterous day!
My Income Tax Return for 2022 - '23 has been filed.
Participated in the 578th episode of Aazhchakkoottam : "Society and the Media" by Dr SR Sanjeev, HoD, Dept of Journalism and Mass Communication, Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram from 1600 - 1730 hrs. The talk was interesting and so was the interaction subsequently!
Dropped Suma kunjamma on her train around a quarter to 11.
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