A study by a non-profit organisation has revealed that there has been almost a 100 per cent rise in the number of crimes committed by juveniles in the last 10 years.
The data compiled by Butterflies shows that in 2003 the number of incidents where juveniles were involved was 17,819, which is 1.7 per cent of the total incidents that took place that year, the number went up to 31,725 which is 2.6 per cent of the total crimes in the year 2013.
According to the study, one of the reasons is lack of proper rehabilitation facilities for the children once they are out of the juvenile homes.
In order to study the reasons in greater details, the organisation conducted a study of juvenile homes in four States including Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Orissa.
The study found out that for most of the centres, it was a mere fulfilment of the guideline of the Juvenile Justice Act. As per the findings, it seemed that the reforms were not executed with the real intent of reforming and rehabilitating the juveniles.
“Most of these children, incidentally, are in various situations of neglect, deprived of their childhood — education, health, food, shelter and clothes, consequently, their basic needs and rights not being fulfilled,” the study said.
“The detention centres lack facilities in fulfilling age/cognitive capacity education aspirations of children. None of the observation homes and special homes provided any worthwhile vocational training programme,” it added.
The organisation also suggested steps for rehabilitation for children. “Education and Vocational training should be linked to the certified courses of the government and should be followed up and supported even when they are out of the detention centres,” one of the suggestions read.
“Appropriate interventions and treatments as per the assessment by the inter-disciplinary team should be provided at the centre and should be followed up even when they are out,” it added.
The study also pressed upon the need of having better “after care” homes for these children once they are out of juvenile homes.
