Caritas India works to create child-friendly and safe environment to prevent child labour and provide them with rehabilitation and development support.As a result of its continuous intervention through its implementing partners in the State of  West Bengal, 15 villages/wards have been declared ‘Child Labour Free Zones and Tea Gardens ’ in Kalimpong municipality of Darjeeling, and ‘Child-Friendly Police Station’ is established, apart from instituting Children’s Clubs and Vigilance Committees that report cases on child labour, engage in awareness creation and related actions. CI is currently implementing a programme, ‘Surokhit Shaishav’ in 6 districts of West Bengal supported by Caritas Germany which aims to work towards the abolition of child labour in all forms in the state by establishing effective child protection systems and promoting children’s rights to education, inclusive development and social participation.

Panighatta Police Post , under Mirik Subdivision, Darjeeling inaugurated its Child-friendly corner on 27th January 2021 with the joint initiative of Darjeeling District Police, Seva Kendra Siliguri under the aegis of Caritas India under  the Surokhit Shaishav Program supported by Caritas Germany  during the week of National Girl Child Day.

Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, it is important to ensure that a right environment is created, and police officers handle cases with the right attitude after adequate training in child-related issues. Similar guidelines were also issued by the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in 2017. Thus, there is a mandate under these laws for children to create and establish a child friendly corner at each police station.

“We should not just have child-friendly police corner, but the entire police station must be child friendly …and not only the police station but all the villages and the community should be a safe place for our children” were noteworthy words from Shri. Abhishek Gupta, I.P.S, Additional Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling District after inaugurating the “Child-Friendly Police Corner, at Panighatta Police Post.

“A safe environment has now been made available for children at Panighatta police post which will help the children to file their complaints in a friendlier atmosphere”, shared the Sub -Inspector at the Police Station.

During the inauguration, a Policy brief of CARITAS INDIA, ‘“Rights of Children during COVID and Beyond”, was released by Rt. Rev. Bishop Vincent Aind, Bishop of Bagdogra and shared to eminent dignitaries from different government department – Joint BDO, Mirik Sub Division, Additional Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling District, SDPO, DCPU, CDPO Circle Inspector, Officer In-charge, CINI and World vision representative of Darjeeling Region Child Rights Network.

“Caritas India reiterate its firm commitment to leave no-one behind; to leave no child behind. We recognize that children are positive change agents and we commit to partner with them now and in the future. Caritas India is reaching out to children in various ways in terms of emergency response, positive engagement strategies, psychosocial support, and a lot more. We are hereby submitting our recommendations towards which we can take collective action with Govt. Stakeholders and Non-Govt. Stakeholders towards ensuring rights of Children” were the opening remarks from Ms Asha R Ekka, Program Manager- Child Rights(West Bengal).

Cultural program was staged by children club members of Panighatta children club members on Child Abuse and traditional tribal and nepali dance.

This was soon followed by an inspirational message from Rt Rev. Vincent Aind , Bishop of Bagdogra wherein he laid importance that “Every human person from birth to the tomb, is a divine created of GOD and has the right to life and human dignity, Church strongly believes that from the time the child is conceived has the right to life and survival” In his quote from the Bible he mentioned “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

District Child Protection Officer, Darjeeling, Smt Pritaya Chettri and Shri Lobsang Tshering Bhutia CDPO, Mirik extended their full support and collaboration to Caritas India and Seva Kendra soon.  Mr S Shaw Joint BDO Mirik and Mr Shri Rudra Narayan Sau SDPO Mirik too joined in the along with the other dignitaries. All were later handed over Caritas India’s Policy Brief.

Rev. Fr. Felix Pinto Director Seva Kendra Siliguri, felicitated the chief guest the other government dignitaries with a token of gratitude. The vote of thanks was presented by Ms Sneha Minj child leader from Panighatta Children clubs.

This inauguration of the child-friendly corner is a positive step towards the creation a safe space for children and strengthening child protection mechanisms. Caritas India and its partners are committed towards to create sustainable impacts in strengthening child protection systems through concerted efforts and convergence and non-govt. Stakeholders.