MP Police-BBA venture:12 police stations get child-friendly

Madhya Pradesh police in association with an organisation founded by Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi have come up with "child-friendly corners" in police stations with an objective to make young victims of crime and juveniles in conflict with law feel comfortable.

The child-friendly corners having facilities like swings, comics, computers etc. have come up at 12 police stations under the Bhopal police division.

The rooms were formally handed over to the state police at a function held at MP Nagar police station in Bhopal on Tuesday.

The state police has tied up with Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) of Satyarthi which has set up these centres, said BBA senior manager Manish Sharma.

"This step is taken in accordance with the guidelines of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). We have handed over these corners to police on Tuesday," said Sharma.

He said the child-friendly corners or rooms are adorned with wall paintings. They also have beds, water coolers, lights, and computers which would make children, visiting police stations comfortable.

"Apart from this, things like books, toys and various games are made available in these rooms which is expected to make children less anxious," he said.

Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Mahavir Mujaldey, who was coordinating this project, told PTI that out of 12 child-friendly corners, four are set up in Bhopal at police stations in Bairagarh, Govindpura, TT Nagar and MP Nagar.

Such centres are also set up at police stations in Vidisha, Raisen and Rajgarh districts under the Bhopal division, he added.

"Children/juveniles who have committed crimes or the victims in need of protection will be kept at these centres till completion of legal process. They will get friendly environment," he said.

BBA CEO Samir Mathur said the child-friendly police stations will play a crucial role in ensuring that every child has access to justice.