COIMBATORE: The escape of 30 juveniles from an observation home in Chennai has had an impact here with the facility in Coimbatore now incorporating a counselling room for the benefit of the children in conflict with law.
The Home, which started in the late 1930’s, is the only facility out of eight other homes in the State that is not state-run. Instead, it is run by the Coimbatore District Discharged Prisoners Aid Society.
After the Chennai jail break incident, representatives of the Coimbatore District Legal Services Authority along with a judge visited the facility on Monday and inaugurated the counselling room. Speaking to Express, C M Manickam, the Superintendent of the Observation Home, said that a trained counselor would advise the kids about how to make better choices. “We also offer to give them all the help they require to help them re-integrate into society,” he said. Another teacher there helped students with developing a reading habit and in keeping them on par with the school curricula. The children were also allowed to watch television and to participate in sporting events while at the facility.
In order to ensure that the beneficial influence of their parents continue here, the Observation Home now allowed parents to visit their wards during the day, after getting permission of the superintendent.