POCSO cases in Kerala rising, says State Commission for Protection of Child Rights report
A report from the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights indicates a rise in reported POCSO cases, reaching 4,765 in 2025. Officials suggest this increase reflects improved legal literacy and reporting mechanisms rather than solely an increase in criminal activity.
Why it matters
The data highlights ongoing challenges in child safety and the effectiveness of reporting infrastructure in protecting vulnerable populations.
The number of cases reported under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Kerala continues to rise, underscoring the vulnerability of children despite the presence of various protection mechanisms.
In 2024, the number of POCSO cases reported in the State was 4,607. This increased to 4,765 in 2025, according to the annual report of the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights for 2025-26.
In 2013, the year the commission came into being, the number of POCSO cases reported was 1,002. The increase, however, cannot be interpreted as a rise in the number of crime alone.
Improvement in legal literacy, strengthening of awareness activities, and lesser hesitation in reporting sexual crime against children have led to better reporting of incidents, says the report.
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