Odisha’s Sundargarh district gets the first child-friendly police station

Soon after the government announced to set up child-friendly police stations, Rajgangpur Police Station became the first station to get one

The Odisha government has decided to set up child-friendly police stations across the state, to reduce the mental pressure of a child who could visit the station, in a high-level meeting chaired by CM Naveen Patnaik himself.

Initially, the child-friendly police station would be constructed one in each district, official statement quoted the approval of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is also heading the home ministry department. There are 34 police districts in the state.

First child-friendly police station inaugurated

The first child-friendly police station of Sundargarh district under the scheme ‘Ama Khusi Ama Suraksha’ was inaugurated by IG Western range yesterday at Rajgangpur Police Station. Under the ‘Ama Khusi Ama Suraksha’ scheme, a platform will be developed to help children understand the daily functioning of the police station.

The scheme would be divided into three stages. The first stage includes development, where a child welfare officer would be deployed in each station to take care of the visiting kids. Two female staff trained in child counselling would be appointed to act as a link between the victim and the family in child abuse cases. The last stage will include community participation.

Police stations to be painted

Each police station will have chairs, tables, toys and first-aid kits for kids who would visit the station for any reason, the statement read. It further directed that police stations’ walls would have paintings and informative pictures drawn on them.

The station would house children’s books, magazines and newspapers, along with special logos and posters on child rights. The do’s and don’ts for the police personnel will also be put up at police stations across the states.

According to the statement released by the CMO Odisha, the name and contact details of child welfare officers and other related information would be displayed at the stations. They would also have special libraries for children.

Odisha Police had received 8.99 crore rupees to strengthen the women and children desks and anti-human trafficking units. Out of 8.99 crore rupees, women and children desks in 500 police stations got five crore rupees, and the remaining amount was given to AHTUs.