The Government of India has passed two landmark legislation for the protection of children – the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Both these laws define a child as anyone below the age of 18 years.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act) aims to cater to the “basic needs” of children alleged or found to be in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection “through proper care, protection, development, treatment, social reintegration, by adopting a child-friendly approach… in the best interest of children”. With these words in its Preamble, the JJ Act makes it clear that the focus of the legislation is to adopt the best possible child-friendly atmosphere to provide care, protection and rehabilitation services to the child. The ‘child-friendly approach’ is thus a central feature of the Act.

Section 2 (15) of the JJ Act defines the term ‘child friendly’ as “any behaviour, conduct, practice, process, attitude, environment or treatment that is humane, considerate and in the best interest of the child”. Section 2 (9) defines “best interest of the child” as “the basis for any decision taken regarding the child, to ensure fulfilment of his basic rights and needs, identity, social well-being and physical, emotional and intellectual development”. 

It is important to know here that the child-friendly approach should be reflected in every aspect of the experience of the child in conflict with the law or the child in need of care and protection. It includes the behaviour, tone and attitude of the people interacting with them, the physical infrastructure surrounding them, the procedures that he/she is taken through within the ambit of the law, the general environment surrounding the child, whether he/she is in a police station, a child care institution, a court, a government office, a hospital or any other location.

Once the Importance of Child-friendly Corner (CFC) was known to the Police and NGOs, they came forward for developing it in Police Stations and every state action is been taken to develop child-friendly corners. 

Caritas India in Uttar Pradesh has made its presence viable working with the Partners in four different locations at Indo-Nepal border under Swaraksha Anti-Human Trafficking Program which focused on the safety of Children and women who are vulnerable and are at the peril of being Trafficked or abused or neglected. Several Awareness and sensitization Campaigns were organized for the children and women with different Govt. stakeholders like law enforcement agencies Panchayats and Vendors to stop Child abuse in the form of Child labour and Human Trafficking and different forms of Child exploitation.

In a recent collaboration with the State Police in Lucknow, Caritas India and it’s Partner DSWS made rigorous efforts to develop the CFC in local Police Station. After several meetings with Senior Police officials of the city and discussion on the importance of CFC, the Caritas team got the Consent letter and eventually, space was finalized at Saadatganj Police Station. Now the journey for creating the CFC started where the Caritas India and Partners team went through the guidelines of developing the Child-friendly Corner.

Sharing the important features of CFC with the Senior Police officials and Police officials, the entire Plan was discussed and a separate room was provided in the Police Station premises where the work started for Giving the new look to the room. After the inputs from the workmanship of several workers, a child-friendly corner was a created with different colours which will not only attract the children coming there but it will give the feeling of being loved and comforted either child come there in need of care and Protection or it may be the child in conflict with the law. This initiative for Children is not an infrastructure for children but it is a remarkable notation of Care and love for Children of any class or society.

After everything was ready, the time came to hand over the place to the Local Police Station. A small Inauguration ceremony witnessed the love and concern of Police officials and different stakeholders and NGOs.  

Ms. Ruchita Chaudhary Senior IPS Inaugurated the CFC room together with little children who were present in the ceremony. Before cutting the Ribbon, the special guests and speakers addressed the participants and launched the Annual Newsletter of Swaraksha AHT Program for Jan20-Dec20. From the Child Welfare Committee, Dr. Sangeeta Sharma shared, why the Child-Friendly Corner is Important in every Police Station. She said that “Children are very innocent and if they come across any incident which brings them to Police station either they need care or they conflict with the law they need to be treated with proper care and Protection. It’s the responsibility of everyone who is with the child to listen to the child and entertain him in a friendly manner”. She requested the Police officers to take care of the CFC and make the maximum use of it with Children. 

From Save the Children, Anjali Singh, Regional Manager, Advocacy and Communication shared the Role and Responsibilities of Child Welfare Police officer in every Special Juvenile Police Unit. She said that “every CWPO is responsible for Child safety and he /she should not come in Police uniform While they come across the children”. The Children are not supposed to be taken near lockup in thanas, they should be kept in Child-friendly room with and the CWPO should handle these children very politely, as per the Juvenile Justice Act. She said that the CWPO should familiar with JJ Act from Section 74to Section 88 which speaks about how to handle the cases of Children in Conflict with law. 

Chief Guest Ms. Ruchita Chaudhary also appreciated Caritas India Initiative for giving Children such a beautiful corner. She suggested the CWPO for actively partaking in child-related cases in the CFC premises for the best interest of Child. She also said these kinds of initiative are very important to build the children coming in conflict with the law. Station House officer of that Police Station, MP Singh also appreciated the work and said that he and his team will look forward to smooth actions while children are visiting their Police Stations.  

The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Director DSWS Lucknow and sharing on more initiatives for the wellbeing of Children. Caritas India Staff also updated the participants on Caritas Work in different Thematic areas and how the organization is working for Children’s under Swaraksha Anti Human Trafficking Program at the Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh and during the last three years, the changes can be seen from the grass-root level till the policy Implementation level. Representatives from Media and NGOs like Bachpan Bachao, Action Aid, Pratham, Mann Foundation and several other Police officials with ACP Lucknow attended the event.