Prayas - NIPCCD Partnership

National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD), an autonomous organization under Ministry of Women & Child Development Govt. of India, has undertaken a project of developing a Manual for Special Juvenile Police Units and Police in collaboration with Prayas Institute of Juvenile Justice, the apex unit of the nationally known voluntary organization Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre Society, an apex voluntary organisation in the forefront of juvenile justice system for over two decades.

The proposed Manual on the Police/ SJPU would cater to the specificities of its constitution and functioning, the role of police, case studies, legal provisions and illustrations, graphics and practical problems encountered during the entire process. It is to be a user-friendly ready-reckoner for personnel deputed as the Juvenile/Child Welfare Officers at police station and SJPU (Special Juvenile Police Unit) level setup under section 63 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 & Amendment Act, 2006 and under Rule 84 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007.

Although, the provisions and legal processes are well defined yet practical and functional guidance is not available. In this context, it was felt that a simplified document, akin to the Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) defining step-wise actions to be taken as per the legal provisions and practical requirements would go a long-way in enabling police personnel working in SJPUs and other users to take appropriate action at every step  from the first contact with a child in need of care or a juvenile in conflict with law, to understand how to operate laws and apply the same in the given situation, including the precautions to be taken while tackling a given situation.

There was also a need to understand that the role of police is not limited to juveniles/children alone. The police personnel have to look into other legislation such as Child Labour (Regulation & Prohibition) Act 1986, Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, Bonded Labour Act, and Child Marriage (Prohibition) Act. It is also importance for the police to know the manner in which they have to interact with the children and adopt the practice of handling them with kindness and understanding, particularly with reference to their contact with the child as victim, as perpetrator, in need of care & protection and as witness.

The project has the following objectives:

1. To develop appropriate manual for SJPU/Police Officers and associated persons in collaboration of the partnering agencies
2. Make the Manual a user-friendly and comprehensive document after due diligence for the members of SJPUs and other connected stakeholders. 

It proposes to have three workshops, of which the first workshop is being held in NIPCCD Regional Centre, Lucknow on 24th-25th July 2009.