The need for strengthening the network among stakeholders and improvement of coordination mechanism was highlighted at the Sensitisation Programme on Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
‘State Commission needed’
Participants at the training programme came from the Department of Women and Child Development, Child Welfare Committee, Childline, Pondicherry State Legal Services Authority, JIPMER, police, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) wing and several other stakeholders.
The need to constitute the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) was raised at the programme.
Special police unit
Rudra Kumar, Deputy Director, Prosecution, Government of Puducherry, said that a Special Police Unit to deal with cases under the POCSO Act was required in Puducherry.
“The victim has to be separated from the local police station and his or her village, only then an effective investigation can be carried out,” he said.
