Hyderabad got its first children-friendly police station at Medipally. A portion of the police station under the Rachakonda Commissionerate has been transformed into a child-friendly area with a play zone and a colourful ambiance.
Bachpan Bachao
Inaugurating the facility on Thursday, Rachakonda Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat, thanked the Bachpan Bachao Andolan for helping to execute the project. “I had this idea when I read about a similar endeavour in Kerala and Rajasthan. Then I sounded out Bachpan Bachao Andolan officials who agreed to help us out,” said Mr. Bhagwat about the initiative.
A section of the police station presents a colour picture with a paraphernalia of soft toys, board games, activity centre and books. “The idea is that when children are rescued, they are under stress when they are brought to a normal police station with uniformed personnel. Here, the police officials will be in civilian dress and a woman officer of Sub-Inspector rank will take the statement of the victim. The children will not be exposed to anti-social elements and criminals who come to the PS,” said Mr. Bhagwat.
Police officials said 1,884 children (1,460 boys and 424 girls) were rescued from various industries in the Rachakonda Commissionerate limits since July 2016. Telangana has seen a spurt in crimes against children in 2017, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. The number of crimes logged against children were 2697 in 2015, this number went up to 2909 in 2016, and in 2017, the number of crimes against children were recorded at 3529.
“This is a transit facility. We will have specially trained police personnel to oversee this place to ensure it is stress free for children. There is a play area as well so that they can relax,” Mr. Bhagwat said.
Dozens of children from nearby schools, social activists and policemen were present at the inaugural function where children had a free run.
