INTRODUCTION
GOVERNMENT OF PUDUCHERRY
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE

"State Level Training Programme for the Juvenile Justice Functionaries"

28th February to 2nd March 2007

Labour Complex Auditorium, Labour Department, Gandhi Nagar, Puducherry

The Government of India has enacted the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000. This Act replaces existing Juvenile Justice Act 1986. This new law is more child-friendly provides for proper care and protection and also for ultimate rehabilitation of children in need of care and protection. A clear distinction has been made between Juvenile Offender and the neglected child. It prescribes a uniform age of 18 years for both  boys and girls to be treated as children and prescribes a time limit for 4 months for completion of cases. It provides compulsorily for setting up Juvenile Justice Board (Previously known as Juvenile Welfare Board) either for a District on a group of Districts. Role of Voluntary Organizations and local authorities has been specified for involving them at various stages for handling and rehabilitating children. The special emphasis has been laid on rehabilitation and social re-integration of the children and the alternatives provided for the same or adoption, foster care, sponsorship and after care.

          As part of the implementation of the Act, the Department of Social Welfare, Puducherry in collaboration with National Institute of Social Defence, New Delhi is organizing the State Level Training Programme for the Juvenile Justice Functionaries. Three such training programmes were already organized by this Department in collaboration with NSID, New Delhi in the years 2002, 2003 and 2005. Nearly 90 officials from various Departments dealing with the Juvenile Justice Act were trained in this programme.

          Now in this programme, nearly 25 Police officials who were recently designated as Juvenile Police officers will be trained in various aspects of the Juvenile Justice Act.