Cops station to get colourful corner for rescued kids

The move follows a Centre’s direction to establish such corners in all police stations through National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.  

There should be women police officers/social workers to talk to girl children. The space should be distinguished from other parts of the station by means of colourful posters, age appropriate toys and separately maintained furniture, to make the child feel comfortable. The room/corner might also be placed under CCTV surveillance to ensure that the child was treated properly.

N Geetha, senior inspector at Guindy AWPS said, “The idea is to make the place child-friendly, apart from having trained staff, who will handle the children with care and compassion. It will include a congenial atmosphere in the form of brightly lit and colourful walls.” She further added that there would also be a training module that would be initiated soon to equip staff to handle children. 

The Salem Town all women police station has already been operating this set up from September last year, the station has been handling children, who were found wandering in public places. A source from the station said, “We bring them to a room specifically designed for them with Chhota Bheem pictures and make them feel at ease. The grimness of a police station can scare them. We dispel that by deploying officials in mufti to counsel them. The kids will also be offered snacks and milk or even lunch, as we try to locate their parents. In case of a delay, we send them to an NGO which has a tie-up with us to take care of the abandoned.”

Experts in the field of child care and rights question the effectiveness of the implementation. Vidya Shankar, former chairperson, of Juvenile Welfare Board, said, “It is a brilliant idea. But the question about how they are going to sensitise people involved in it and retention of those trained remains. In the absence of both, it will only be a cosmetic move,” she said.

The station should include Child Welfare Police Officer’ designated at every station. The officer should be given regular training in Child related laws and must be trained to track missing child portal entries.