Assam Director General of Police (DGP), Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta said that a child-friendly environment helps in forming of a close bond between children visiting police stations.

The DGP said this while visiting the child-friendly corner at the Azara Police station on the outskirts of Guwahati on Friday.

Mahanta said, “All newly constructed police stations in the state will have child-friendly corners, well furnished with enough toys, books, recreation materials and art done by children themselves.”

A friendly environment will create a special bond between children who need to visit the police station, either as children in need of care and protection, or children in conflict with law, he said.

He also lighted a candle at the child-friendly corner that has been furnished by Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an NGO founded by nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi.

The women and child-friendly corner at the police station was constructed under the Assam Police’s Moitree project.

Chief minister, Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated it in 2019.

Child-friendly police stations play a crucial role in encouraging reporting of crime and reinforcing access to justice to children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law as per Section 8 (2) (v) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules 2016.

“We have furnished the child-friendly corner in the Azara Police Station as per the guidelines of the National Commission for Protection of Children,” said a member of Bachpan Bachao Andolan.

“We at BBA envision the creation of a child-friendly society through active participation of children and collaborative engagement with the government and civil society,” the member added.