‘Link all CWCs, train new members extensively’

The new committee comprising a chairperson and four other members replaced the old one that had been headless for several years with three members who were working on an extension. When a new team takes charge, the most important part is their training on all related legal provisions and procedures.

Andrew Sesuraj, State Convener, TamilNadu Child Rights Observatory (TNCRO), said that they must be trained extensively in the Juvenile Justice Act (Care and Protection of Children) 2015 (JJ). “Earlier, there was no clear or standard operating procedure. The Juvenile Justice Act seeks a full-time CWC and a 24-hour duty roaster. The question now is by how far these members are prepared for it,” he said.

However, Vidya Shankar, former chairperson, Juvenile Welfare Board, said that the members had to go beyond the JJ act and be aware of the IPC and CrPC concerning the children. She said, “The JJ Act is an overarching one. There are many others related to labour, trafficking, women and adoption, POCSO, etc all these have to be impregnated in a full-scale training.”

She pointed out that after Mumbai, Chennai witnessed a lot of cases concerning children. Additionally, since given it is a transit point between the south and the north, a lot of children run away to the city.

“Networking has to be done through a good rapport with child-related institutions across the country. That also calls for them to be multilingual,” she added.

The experts and activists also observe the need for linking of CWCs across TN and other states. Virgin D Sami, former CWC member, pointed out that it was high time that a network was established. “When I was in the CWC, there were no followups. Once a child labourer is reunited with the family, there should be a follow-up to see what happens to them after they are sent home.

On war footing, the linkages should happen within the State. We have the mechanism for that — like the District Child Protection Officer and the child helpline. The POCSO Act is an excellent legislation but the implementation is not as effective.  The

team should also have a resource group of translators and interpreters,” she said.

With the Juvenile Justice Committee monitoring their activity and more people working towards CWC, they can make a positive impact on the lives of children, added Sesuraj.

Agreeing that training programmes will have to be dynamic for the CWC in Chennai, K Manivasan, Principal Secretary, Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme Department, said though the members experienced, they would have a full-fledged orientation programme.

“There are JJ Act and Rules and there is a committee in the HC monitoring the cases—the members have to be oriented with all of them. Moreover, there are several High Court and Supreme Court rulings they must be familiar with,” he added. He also said that while one committee has been constituted now, two more will soon be in place to deal with the large volume of cases in Chennai.