SHAKTI VAHINI CAMPAIGNS AND ACTIVISM

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VENUE: INDIAN INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, NEW DELHI   DATE:22.12.2010

The meeting was organised by Shakti Vahini  in collaboration with Women and Child Police Unit Nanakpura , Delhi Police , order to provide a platform for the Juvenile Welfare Officers  to have a open discussion on the working of the Juvenile Justice Act with various stakeholders. The program was attended by 70 police personnel’s and stakeholders associated with J.JAct. Ms Geetika- Joint Director, Department of Women and Child, Govt of NCT of Delhi, Ms Suman Nalwa – Additional DCP , Special Cell for Women and Child Nanakpura , Mr Shashank Shekhar- Member of Delhi Commission for Protection for Child Rights,  Mr Ananad Asthana -Advocate , Delhi Legal Services Authority, Chairperson , Child Welfare Committee Mayur Vihar , Chairperson , Child Welfare Committee Nirmal Chaya were the dignitaries who addressed the Juvenile Welfare Officers.

The program started  by a welcome speech by Mr Ravi Kant- Advocate Supreme Court of India , and President Shakti Vahini  who opined that the training programs which was organised by  Shakti Vahini in different police stations of East and Central district of Delhi led to the ignition of  the  present meeting . The Juvenile Welfare Officers had lots of queries which required immediate clarifications  and attention.

Ms Komal Ganotra(Specialist Training and Advocacy , CIF , Delhi) discussed  the role of CHIILDLINE programme in city. She stated that CHILDLINE  is a network committed to a mission and mandate for child protection. They want to create a child friendly  nation  that guarantees welfare of children . She requested the police personnel’s to avail the services of CHILDLINE without any kind of hesitation.She also requested the police personnels to make use of the  correct  constitutional safeguards  with respect to the issues pertaining to children.

Ms Geetika Sharma(Joint Director , Dept of Social Welfare)  discussed about trafficking of women and children. She stated that Law Enforcement Agencies should know about issues connected to trafficking of women and children . It is an organised crime so it is  extremely important for all of us to join hands  in order to curb this crime. She also talked about the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act. Dept Of Social Welfare  has initiated many activities for the emotional and economic  upliftment  of the victims .She stated  on the fact that  the main job of Social Welfare Dept is to work for the welfare of the victims. She highlighted the need of strengthening of the restoration and repatriation of the victims.

Ms Suman Nalwa(Addl.DCP,SPUWC) raised certain important issues of the police personnels. She opined that Govt has created State CWC but  the police officials who are representatives of the state are not made  part of that committe. She Higlighted the need of convergence between the different Stakeholders in the implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act. She said that the local police should be aware of the different programmes being run by the different agencies for the welfare of Children and Women. She said that the Delhi Police was preparing for the Anti Human Trafficking Units to established as per the Ministry of Home Affairs Guidelines. She requested the juvenile welfare officers to come up with their issues/problems to her and she will definitely carry forward their issues to higher authorities.She also mentioned that  there should be safety areas /places like Balwadi for the protection of those kids whose both the parents go out for work.

A  briefing was also done  on Child in need  of care and protection by CWC members , Smt Neera Mullick(Chaiperson , CWC, Nirmal Chhaya), Smt Mamta Sahay(Chairperson CWC, Mayur Vihar) and Smt Paramjit Kaur Kukreja(Member, CWC, Lajpat Nagar) . They all requested the police personnels to write a detailed  case study of the  victim before producing them  to the concerned CWC. They also asked them to  get a detailed  medical check up  of the victims. They also requested the police personnels to be extra careful  and sensitive while dealing with issues pertaining to children.

Police personnels present over there discussed the challenges faced by them while they deal with cases pertaining to children. The juvenile welfare officers are  not able to give their full efforts in issues pertaining to children as they are already preloaded with other cases. All the honourable members of CWC agreed to carry forward their issues to higher authorities.

Mr Anant Kumar Asthana (Legal Aid Counsel, Juvenile Justice Board-I)  discussed about JJB and legal aid. He requested the police officials to follow the guidelines   of J.J Act  very carefully and methodically . He also asked them to be very sensitive and affectionate while handling cases pertaining to children.He mentioned the achievement of this act which has helped in raising the  success graph. He  opined that in near future  we will file a petition in support of the facilities provided  to Juvenile Welfare Officers  so that they will be able to carry out the investigation properly and independently. He requested the police personnels to treat each and every child as their own child and  they should never take J.J Act with any kind of fear or hatredness. They should try to come out  with positive measures  inorder to  fill the gaps.

SI Vishal  Dev(SJPU, EAST) and SI Meena Kumari (SJPU,CENTRAL) both of them thanked Shakti Vahini for the training programmes which is being conducted regularly in the concerned police stations and also for the legal  and counselling services.

Mr Shashank Shekhar(Representative , DCPCR)  talked about  the efficiency of Delhi Police in handling cases pertaining to child rights. He opined that at present approximately in  800  cases related to child rights DCPCR has involved   Delhi Police .He said that Delhi Police is one of the best example in the implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act. He also talked about all the rights pertaining to children like ITPA, J.J Act , BPBA and Right to Education.DCPCR is the only commission which follows UNCRCand takes care of the best interest of the child and serves the best interest of the child.The framework followed by DCPCR is right to survival , right to development (education , care , leisure and recreation), right to protection (from exploitation , abuse and  neglect) and right to participation-expression, information, thought and religion. Whatever cases comes to DCPCR they take it as a complain and thus  give recommendations to competent authorities.

Finally a vote of thanks was given by Mr Ravi Kant who thanked all the resource persons for giving their valuable time and enlightening each and everyone  present there in the meeting.