Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 19: A district-level stakeholder consultation on “10 Years of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015” was held in South Andaman, bringing together representatives of the judiciary, police, education, health, social welfare and child protection institutions to review the implementation of the law and identify areas requiring further strengthening.
The consultation was held at the Conference Hall of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, under the guidance of the Juvenile Justice Committee of the High Court at Calcutta and pursuant to an initiative of the Supreme Court of India.
The meeting brought together stakeholders associated with child protection and welfare, including representatives from the Police, Education, Health and Social Welfare Departments, the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Child Care Institutions, the Juvenile Justice Board and other concerned agencies.
The discussions focused on strengthening coordination among different departments and institutions involved in ensuring the safety, protection, rights, rehabilitation and holistic development of children.
The consultation covered children in need of care and protection, children in conflict with law and children involved in adoption processes, in accordance with the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
A major focus of the meeting was the need for effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act through timely intervention, improved inter-departmental coordination, child-friendly procedures and stronger child protection mechanisms at the community level.
The District Child Protection Unit, South Andaman, made a detailed presentation covering key areas including adoption, children in need of care and protection, children in conflict with law, as well as developments and achievements recorded during the ten years of implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act in the district.
During the consultation, members of the judiciary highlighted the importance of sensitising institutions and officials dealing with children. District and Sessions Judge Subhra Bandopadhyay, Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge POCSO Umesh Singh, Chief Judicial Magistrate Samrat Roy and Judicial Magistrate First Class-cum-Principal Magistrate of the Juvenile Justice Board Jayanta Mukherjee stressed the need for child-friendly procedures while handling matters involving children.
The discussions also covered cases involving children in need of care and protection, children in conflict with law and adoption under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Particular emphasis was placed on preliminary assessment under Section 15 of the Juvenile Justice Act, according to the information presented during the consultation.
Participants further stressed the importance of continuous capacity building and sensitisation of frontline functionaries, along with effective case management and timely coordination among the various agencies involved in child protection.
The meeting also highlighted the need to ensure appropriate care, protection, rehabilitation and reintegration for children requiring support under the juvenile justice framework.
Purva Garg, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, acknowledged the participation and collaborative efforts of the departments and institutions involved in the consultation. She emphasised the importance of coordinated and accountable action in strengthening the district-level child protection system and ensuring effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Shweta K. Sugathan, IPS, Superintendent of Police, South Andaman, also highlighted the need to strengthen protection, rehabilitation and reintegration measures for children in conflict with law. She stressed the importance of continued coordination among the Police, Juvenile Justice Board, Child Welfare Committee, District Child Protection Unit and other concerned agencies.
The consultation served as a platform to review the progress made during the past decade of implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act in South Andaman, while also identifying existing gaps and discussing measures for strengthening the child protection and juvenile justice system.
The participating stakeholders reaffirmed the need for continued coordination to build a safe, child-friendly, responsive and supportive environment for children across the district.
