PANJIM: With the recent amendment to the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act, 2015 already in force from mid-last month, the district magistrate has directed the police to appoint a Child Welfare Police Officer (CWPO) to deal with child victims or perpetrators at every police station.
The Police are directed “… to appoint one officer not below the rank of ASI with aptitude, appropriate training and orientation may be designated as the CWPO to exclusively deal with children either as victims or perpetrators, in coordination with the police, voluntary and non-governmental organizations in each police station in north district,” deputy collector Sheru Shirodkar said.
The central government had amended section 77 of the Act in order to curb the growing menace of tobacco in the country. The Act states, “It is an offense against a child, if a person gives or causes to be given, to any child any intoxicating liquor or any narcotic drug or tobacco products or psychotropic substance, expect on the order of a duly qualified medical practitioner, shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to a fine which may extend up to one lakh rupees.”
In this connection, the government had ordered that a police officer be designated as CWPO across all police stations in the country. The North Goa district order comes taking cognizance of a letter by NOTE-India.
