PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
A little girl has garnered widespread praise after a video of her bravely rejecting an alleged fraudster went viral on social media. In response to this, the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) chairwoman Geeta Khanna commended the girl for setting an inspiring example of confidence and awareness for others. She noted that such alertness can help prevent unfortunate incidents. The video which recently went viral on social media shows the girl confronting a man dressed as an ascetic, who allegedly asked her to travel along with him across the Ganga in Rishikesh by offering her Rs 1,200 and a bicycle. The girl prevented the man from leaving while stating that she had told the police about him. After locals became aware of the situation, some of them confronted and manhandled the man.
This widely shared video not only highlights how impostors target children but also showcases the courage displayed by the girl, who firmly refused the offer and exposed the man’s intentions in public. The SCPCR chief expressed admiration for the girl’s actions, emphasising that the video illustrates her confidence and bravery in revealing the imposter’s dubious offer without being tempted by the money. She further added that this incident should not only be celebrated for the girl but also for her parents who developed confidence in her. Khanna pointed out that currently, 80 per cent of child abuse cases are committed by someone known to the child. Therefore, both parents and society need to teach children how to act courageously in such incidents.
She emphasised that parents should responsibly educate their children, whether it’s a boy or a girl, to build their confidence and self-esteem, which will also help in preventing unfortunate incidents. Additionally, she suggested that police and non-governmental organisations should organise awareness programmes in schools that cover topics such as “good touch and bad touch” for students.
