Continuing with its progressive decisions and initiatives in governance, Odisha Government has announced establishment of 34 child-friendly police stations. The aim is to make it easy for children who require to go to the police station for one or the other reason.

The proposal to set up 34 such police stations, one for each police district, was approved by the State Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik who is in-charge of Department of Home.

These child-friendly stations will be different as they will have beds, chairs, tables, toys and first aid kits for children. According to a statement released by the Chief Minister’s Office, there will be wall paintings and informative pictures on the walls.

Besides these police stations will ensure that children's books, magazines and newspapers are available there. Special logos and posters on child rights and Do's and Don'ts for the police personnel will also be put up at these police stations.

Importantly, the name and contact details of the Child Welfare Officer and other related information will also be displayed at these police stations.

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The Sundargarh district took a lead in this initiative when this February the first child-friendly police station under the scheme “Ama Khusi Ama Suraksha” was inaugurated by the Inspector General Western Range, Kavita Jalan at the Rajgangpur Police Station. It was launched as per the guidelines of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights to make every police station in the district child-friendly in a phased manner. Soon five more police stations at Bhasma, Bargaon, Kutra, Town and Biramitrapur too will such stations.

Highlights of the child-friendly police station:

• There will be a “Ananda Ghara” at the police station premises which will have child-friendly decor, books and toys
• Two female personnel of each police station will be provided training by legal and psychology experts to enable them to deal with victims of physical, sexual and mental abuse and to act as a link between their families and the legal system
• Children from different schools will be invited under “One Day At Your Police Station” to spend a day at the police station to familiarise them with the force and its working