The successful implementation of a model for permanent rehabilitation and reintegration of children in conflict with law through skill development, launched for the first time in the country in Jharkhand, by the Jharkhand State legal Services Authority (JHAlSA) in association with the State Department of Women and Child Welfare, will be showcased on July 9 at a function here when Supreme Court Judge, Justice Madan B lokur hands over employment letters to five of them, to begin with.
These five are part of the first batch of 15 inmates of the Ranchi Observation home, who have completed successful training for one month in DTP and screen printing. These five inmates have been enlarged on bail and have been employed by Rajeev Printing Press and Rameshwar Printing Press.
Justice D N Patel, Executive Chairman of JHAlSA, who has been passionately pursuing the project, said such a model for rehabilitation for the juvenile offenders has been launched for the first time in the country. “In fact, we want to prepare them for earning income tax-paying income as part of their rehabilitation,” he added.
“Besides, we are also planning to set up a printing machine in the observation home campus where they will be involved in gainful employment,” he added. Presently, there are over 90 inmates in the Ranchi Observation home
“We want them to earn adequately and not only give jobs to others, but also pay income tax over their earnings. There will be no dearth of orders and marketing their products,” pointed out Justice Patel.
Maintaining the project as a process of social integration of the child offenders, he said that a child in conflict with law will continue to be involved in such gainful jobs with his consent even if he gets bail or acquitted in a case.
“The purpose is that they do not indulge in crimes again and are properly rehabilitated after acquittal,” he added.
In fact, Justice lokur, as Chairman of the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Supreme Court had conceived the concept of such a rehabilitation of the children. He wanted that the hands and minds of juvenile living in an observation home must learn some skill development so that he or she may return to the social garden and start blooming as flowers and spread fragrance by their skill.
The SC Judge, who arrived here today, believed that the skill training in juvenile homes can be the best way for helping them out. He is said to have ignited the rehabilitation activities across the country for effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act 2015, particularly rehabilitation and social integration programme.
Justice lokur had visited the Ranchi Observation Home on February 12 this year, and lauded the welfare works being done at the Observation Home for their rehabilitation.