NEW BEGINNING: BOSCO Boys (Bangalore Oniyavara Seva Coota) playing the band at the South Zone Special Juvenile Police Unit inauguration at Central Police Station, Chamarajpet in Bangalore on Tuesday. — .Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Bangalore: A Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) was launched at the Central Police Station, Chamarajpet, here on Tuesday by Gopal B. Hosur, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime). It will be managed jointly by BOSCO and the South Division police.

Child-friendly services

The SJPU will offer specialised child-friendly services to children in need of care and protection as well as those alleged to be in conflict with the law.

"Though policemen have a lot of work, dealing with children and their problems can in no way be neglected by them. That should occupy a major place in their day-to-day work," Mr. Hosur said.

He called upon the officials to work in collaboration with BOSCO for the betterment of the downtrodden and the marginalised. "SJPU is an avenue where we can pool our resources and work together to prevent juveniles from becoming future criminals," he said.

Alok Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Zone, said primary importance should be given towards the welfare of children. "Police personnel as well as a majority of the public are not aware of the new laws and regulations relating to children," he said.

He urged BOSCO to conduct training programmes for police personnel so as to bring in a change in the way they dealt with children and their problems.

Making a difference

Chidananda, Deputy Director, Department of Women and Child Development, said that SJPU as a project could make a difference to children, especially those in conflict with the law. He urged non-governmental organisations to work with the Government in this regard.

Edward Thomas, Executive Director of BOSCO, said: "The provision in the Act gets its credit not when it is passed but when it is implemented.

The implementation of every law related to children is a commitment that we make on behalf of the child."

He said BOSCO had identified 37 police stations in South Division that would be covered under the unit. "BOSCO aims to be an important stakeholder in the effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, in parts of the country and State where it is not being implemented," he added.

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