Set up juvenile homes at district level: Har minister to officers

Haryana minister Kavita Jain today directed officers concerned to set up observation homes for juveniles, in conflict with the law, at district level in order to deal with overcrowding in those facilities.
Presiding over a meeting here on observation and special homes, the state women and child development minister also told officers of the department to get a lay-out plan of such homes prepared by district child protection officers.
She said over 340 children were living in four observation homes in Ambala, Hisar, Faridabad and Karnal, and a special home in Sonepat.
Steps should be taken to ensure bail for children sent to observation homes for petty crimes so that it does not have an adverse effect on them, Jain was quoted as saying in an official release.

The minister directed the officers to appeal to district and sessions judges for shifting inmates who had attained the age of 18 years, to district jails and make adequate security arrangements in observation and special homes.
She emphasised the need for preparing data of all children in observation homes and organise meetings with the child welfare committee.
Jain said children in observation homes should be allowed to complete their education from open schools and vocational training should also be imparted to them so that they could earn their livelihood after joining the mainstream society.