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PRAYAS IS BORN
- 1988 –Devastating fire in Jahangirpuri Re-settlement slums (north Delhi –now north West) –Thousands destitute, including children on streets
- Amod K. Kanth, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) on the spot-investigation turned into Rehabilitation program for the neglected & destitute children•Crime Branch Delhi Police Contact Centre, a unit of Missing Persons Squad focused on children, run by a Lady Inspector & a Team of socially spirited junior police functionaries
- 1989 –‘Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre Society’registered to help the neglected, vagrant & delinquent juveniles, missing & no-where children
- The Centre converted into a collaborative partnership of Delhi Police, Delhi School of Social Work (DSSW) & Shramik Vidyapeeth (SVP).
- Beginning of journey 25 (to 50,000) children in two room Low Income Group (LIG) flat. Jointly run by the policewomen / men & DSSW student / trainees
- Developing programs of joyful learning, counselling, child protection,
restoration & rehabilitation.
JUVENILE JUSTICE –THE FOCUS OF PRAYAS
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Genesis of Juvenile Justice & Police –Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre, comparable to Juvenile Aid Police Unit (JAPU) of Mumbai Police
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Adopted the legal concept of care, protection, treatment, development & rehabilitation of neglected & delinquent juveniles under Juvenile Justice Act, 1986
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Prayas JAC centre, first ever integrated partnership project between police & social workers –a nucleus for juvenile justice
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Joint Team led by successive lady Inspectors, Praveen Dutt, Asha Thakur, Sudesh Kumari with DSSW trainees & SVP Vocational Instructors
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(Prof.) R. N. Yadav, first Project Manager UGC Research Scholar on street children transplanted from DSSW to Jahangirpuri centre
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Expanding charter of activities responding to children’s needs in the community setting
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Dynamics of police & social work, conflicts on resolution course the developing model of juvenile justice.
DELHI POLICE & JUVENILE JUSTICE CONVENTIONAL VS. PRO-ACTIVE APPROACHES
- 1990-1992 –Transfer of Amod Kanth & the initial attempt to institutionalize JAC Tutelage of Delhi Police –power-centric approach found to be non -functional –the very relevance of Prayas JAC society for Delhi Police challenged
- Changes in the Constitution & collaborative partnership amongst Delhi Police, DSSW & SVP –Resolution mechanism for governmental & non -governmental conflicts
- Defined roles within the larger perspective of Juvenile Justice –Delhi Police for the protection & just treatment of juveniles / children, DSSW toprovide the concept of social work & SVP for vocational rehabilitation
- A developing model of holistic care through the integrated team of Police, Social Worker / Counsellor & Vocational Instructors –Swapping the roles
- Growing programs & activities within the flexible, legal & administrative structure
- Association of eminent experts from Social Work, Education, Vocational Education & Health –Profs. R. M. Varma, R. R. Singh & C. J. Daswani, Drs. D. N. Mathur, K. S. Sachdeva: Multiple governmental & non-governmental partnerships
- 1992/93 –National Workshop on Juvenile Justice, participation of stakeholders -all known practioners, experts & academicians, policy makers & administrators, Ministers & opinion leaders to formulate a national policy & action plan
- Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, UNICEF support: publication of ‘Neglected Child: Changing Perspectives’–Prayas Road Map to Juvenile Justice.
PRAYAS: A HOLISTIC JOURNEY PRAYAS: A HOLISTIC JOURNEY
TOWARDS JUVENILE JUSTICE TOWARDS JUVENILE JUSTICE
- 1993-1996 – Holistic care Holistic care – Responding to the growing Needs & the basic Rights of Children's Protection, Survival, Development & Participation in terms of United Nations Convention of United Nations Convention of
Rights of Child -1989 & the crystallizing juvenile justice philosophy of Prayas.
- Coverage from 500 to 5000 neglected children Coverage from 500 to 5000 neglected children - Increasing number of Non Increasing number of Non -formal Education formal Education (NFE) & Vocational Training Centers (NFE) & Vocational Training Centers
- Programs for child protection, care & maintenance, development, Programs for child protection, care & maintenance, development, restoration & rehabilitation restoration & rehabilitation– Expanding coverage through centers Expanding coverage through centers
- Provision of clothing & shoes, basic nutrition, mid Provision of clothing & shoes, basic nutrition, mid-day meals & health care, counselling & day meals & health care, counselling & recreation recreation – Each activity being pre Each activity being pre-requisites for the fulfillment of the rights of children in requisites for the fulfillment of the rights of children in terms of their basic needs terms of their basic needs
- Growing national concerns for the neglected children, reflected Growing national concerns for the neglected children, reflected more in the voluntary than the more in the voluntary than the governmental sector governmental sector
- Issues like child labour, juvenile neglect & delinquency, traffi Issues like child labour, juvenile neglect & delinquency, trafficking, abuse & exploitation of cking, abuse & exploitation of children children – Catching popular imagination Catching popular imagination
- Serious problems of the shelter Serious problems of the shelter -less, destitute & street children less, destitute & street children – Need for shelters with Need for shelters with multiple care, protection & development programs multiple care, protection & development programs
- Prayas, an attempt to convert & coalesce the entire range of juvenile/ children, neglect & enile/ children, neglect & disadvantaged into a legal, policy & administrative commitment disadvantaged into a legal, policy & administrative commitment
- Concretizing the concept of juvenile justice – Fulfillment of needs & rights of protection & care, education, health, recreation & shelter, just & fair treat care, education, health, recreation & shelter, just & fair treatment, exclusive to the criminal ment, justice system
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