Physical, sexual abuse common in Indian kids

Two-thirds of children in India are physically abused while more than half have faced some form of sexual abuse, a government study backed by the U.N. Children's Fund said on Monday.

The study, which involved questioning almost 12,500 children and parents across 13 of India's 29 states, also found that 70 percent of children never reported the abuse they suffered to anyone.

While physical and sexual abuse of children is illegal in India, it is still prevalent in the home and in schools and especially among street children, working children and those in institutional care, the report said.

The study, which was also supported by Save the Children, found that from the children who were beaten at home, almost 90 percent were at the hands of their parents.

Some 53 percent of children reported having faced sexual abuse.

Half of the cases of sexual abuse were committed by persons known to the child or in a position of trust and responsibility.

Child rights activists welcomed the study, saying it was positive that the government was waking up to the reality.

"Homes, schools and neighbourhoods are not safe for our children as most people don't even believe that hitting or sexually abusing a child is a serious crime," said Kailash Sathyarthi of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, the Save the Childhood movement.

"Laws need to be strengthened and mindsets need to be changed if we are serious about protecting our children."