Setting an example to police stations across the country, Telangana has inaugurated its first child-friendly police station. The station was inaugurated at the Medipally Police Station in Rachakonda by 7-year-old D Ishan and Mahesh Bhagwat, Commissioner of Rachakonda, on Children’s Day.
Ishan, a survivor of blood cancer, who had wished to become a police commissioner for the day was clad in police uniform.
The initiative was launched by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) and the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate with an aim to ensure a child-friendly environment in the police station.
“We applaud this initiative undertaken by the Telangana Police department. Child-friendly police stations play a vital role in ensuring that every child has proper and timely access to justice. These police stations promise a facilitating environment and also encourage higher reporting of crimes relating to children,” Samir Mathur, CEO of BBA, was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
At the inauguration ceremony, the child-friendly police station was formally handed over to the authorities by the BBA. Over 200 students from nearby schools, personnel of the State’s police department, State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), Child Welfare Committee (CWC), District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) and District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) were present at the event.
Medipally Police Station/Twitter
The police station is replete with attractive wall paintings, beds and water coolers to ensure that the children who visit the police station are comfortable and relaxed. In addition, the station also has several books, toys and games to provide a friendly environment.
Calling it the Telangana State Police’s children’s day gift, the twitter handle of the Medipally Police Station on Wednesday, November 13, tweeted, “Medipally PS is the first in the state to have an exclusive child-friendly room. The concept is to reform the juvenile delinquents and children accompanying their parents to the PS,” They also shared a video of the child-friendly police station.
Telangana State Police children’s day (Nov 14 th) gift
Medipally PS is the first in the state to have an exclusive child-friendly room.The concept is to reform the juvenile delinquents and children accompanying their parents to the PS
-0:48 pic.twitter.com/z9BPxRRg88— Medipally Police Station (@MedipallyPS) November 13, 2019
As part of the program, BBA is also slated to organise a training session to raise awareness, sensitise and inform police personnel on the guidelines laid down by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) for establishing child-friendly police stations.
In a separate event on the same day, the BBA collaborated with State Legal Service Authority at Bhavans School, Neeredpet, to sensitise the kids on the issue of missing children. For this, 2000 children formed a human chain in solidarity against the issue.
Human chain of 2000 children extending their support to missing children in Telangana. They submitted a memorandum to the Commissioner of Police, Secretary DLSA , Chairperson CWC and Bhavan School. #helpusfindthem #seekingjustice #doyourbitforchildren pic.twitter.com/xh6mvcMYJm
— BachpanBachaoAndolan (@BBAIndia) November 14, 2019
