The Hindu : Front Page : Child-friendly spaces in police stations unused

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 10, 2007
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Child-friendly spaces in police stations unused

J. Malarvizhi

— Photo: K. Pichumani

gathering dust: The child-friendly room inaugurated a few months ago at the K10 police outpost in Koyambedu in Chennai.

CHENNAI: The city’s first experiment in creating child-friendly spaces in police stations seems to have hit a roadblock.

The specially-made furniture, toys and posters in a room at K10 Police Station, Koyambedu, have either been put away or are gathering dust. Vidya Reddy of Tulir Centre for Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse, which set up the room, recalls that it was a police initiative.

“We were pleased to do up the room. Now, it seems that all they wanted was a token gesture for publicity,” she says.

Even basic requests, such as for a door that can be closed to maintain privacy, so that victims will be able to talk to investigating officers, were not granted, she says.

Police sources say that they did not receive any complaint of child abuse. However, they concede that the K10 outpost often hosts runaway children. “When schoolchildren are found at the terminus, we call the parents or relatives in the city,” a senior official said. Deputy Commissioner (Anna Nagar) Jayagowri said that the room is used whenever complaints are received.

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