It may sound bizarre but true! Although the Ranchi police gaga for the ‘child friendly’ attitude, it has been found that Juvenile Justice Act is not being implemented in its true spirit in the capital’s police stations. According to NGOs working for the child welfare, despite having child friendly police stations, juvenile offenders are being kept with regular offenders and dealt with regular policemen in police station.
State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) member Sanjay Mishra sharing the information about the same said, “The biggest drawback is that the plan implemented is never being followed up from the concerned department. At time of inauguration department echoed high for making it successful but later on forgot to make routine check up to find out it problems. We have asked from the concerned officials to look the matter seriously as there are many juvenile who are first time offender and are getting negative impact of such treatment.”
Meanwhile, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act 2000, clearly states that every police station must have a special designated child welfare officer, with the appropriate training and aptitude, be sensitive to the need of the children and should be acquainted with the law. Save the Children State Programme Coordinator Mahadev Hansda said, “Dealing with the offenders below 18 years is very important as many of them are first time offenders and could be reformed through a social approach and suitable legacy. Harsh punishment or severity would just put them back to crime. It is for that reason we have provided training to more than hundred police officials from Ranchi, Khunti and lohardaga. In the training it was made specific that the police officials have to appear in civil dress before the minor offender and keep a lenient behaviour towards them.”
Interestingly, when the police officials were enquired over the matter they stated financial crisis to be its real culprit. Jagnnathpur Police Station in-charge Anil Kumar said,“The fund that we receive from the department is so low that it is not possible for us to provide juvenile offenders a special care. It is for that reason even rescued trafficked girls are being handed to NGOs for ensuring a proper care.”
Each Police Station every month receives a sum of Rs 20,000 as permanent advance fund to meet the expenses such as purchase of stationary items, for the cremation of the dead body, and for travelling the accused to the court.City SP Anup Bitharey has assured to review the matter and if required then will also demand for additional fund for the child friendly police station.
On December 25, 2013, the police in collaboration with UNICEF (Jharkhand) launched a child friendly police station programme.It is a two year programme which will cover has 502.