PUDUCHERRY: Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee Dr Vidyaa Ramkumar suggested the formation of Special Juvenile Police Units at the district-level and child welfare officers at each police station to look into the complaints relating to sexual abuse, harassment and torture of children.
She came out with a number of suggestions at the Gender Sensitisation Programme, organised here on Friday.
Inspector general of police Praveer Ranjan, deputy IGP Kannan Jagadeesan, superintendents of police T Bairavasamy and Deivasigamoni were present.
Other suggestions include designated space for dealing with children’s complaints in each police station, setting up of booths by the Railway Security Force for tracing missing kids, setting up of a committee consisting of representatives of police, women’s commission, education department, schools and colleges and CWC to look into children’s complaints.
Pointing out the mushrooming illegal abortion centres and unlicensed children’s homes in the recent times, Dr Vidyaa said police and administration should keep a close watch on these centres and homes. She added that out of the 155 children’s homes, only 41 have licences.
She also said unauthorised guest houses were posing a threat to children in Puducherry as the region is a preferred destination for tourists. The CWC chairperson insisted that police should not hesitate to file FIRs after receiving complaints.
Vidyaa Ramkumar said CWC has dealt with cases and complaints relating to care and protection of children during the period starting from June 14, 2013 to May 13, 2014. Giving details, she said, affected children were restored to shelter homes, and education provided in 329 cases. In other cases, 72 children were restored to their families, 5 child marriages were stopped and 20 babies were given for adoption.
The CWC expressed its concern over the increase in number of rapes, child trafficking, and street children getting addicted to drugs.