The evening of November 20 saw the Assam Police Headquarters and the Guwahati Police Commissionerate taking on a deep blue hue. As lights were switched on like any other evening, both these landmark buildings turned blue, a result of the day’s careful preparation to illuminate them in that colour. This was done to observe the ‘Go Blue’ campaign started by UNICEF, where iconic landmarks across the world are illuminated in blue to express solidarity with the preservation of children’s rights.
November 20 is celebrated as World Children’s Day globally every year. However, this year, as children are greatly hit by the Covid 19 pandemic, it is not a celebration but a resolve towards reimagining a better world for every child.
Speaking exclusively to Indian Masterminds, IPS Harmeet Singh, Commissioner of Police, Guwahati City, and IPS Partha Sarathi Mahanta, Joint Commissioner of Police, Guwahati, highlighted the significance of the ‘Go Blue’ campaign in Assam’s context as Assam Police has been prioritising protection of child rights through its Sishu Mitra Programme, which is one of the largest child-friendly policing programmes in the country.
GO BLUE CAMPAIGN
On November 20, the Assam Police Headquarters, the Guwahati Police Commissioner’s Office, and four police stations – Azara, Bashistha, Pan Bazar and Jalukbari (New) were illuminated in the colour blue, in step with the ‘Go Blue’ campaign started by UNICEF. Going blue on World Children’s Day is representative of UNICEF’s mandate to stand for the rights of every child. Iconic landmarks across the world are illuminated in the colour blue to express solidarity with the preservation of the rights of children.
SHISHU MITRA PROGRAMME
Assam Police has been working for the protection and preservation of the rights of children in the state. And to streamline its efforts and campaigns in this field, the Assam Police Sishu Mitra Programme was launched in 2019. It is one of the largest child-friendly policing programes in India. UNICEF and UTSAH Child Rights Org have partnered with the Assam Police as technical agencies for implementation of this programme on field.
Commissioner of Police, Guwahati City, IPS Harmeet Singh said, “This programme has several components including capacity building, soft skills development and, most importantly, resource support for police officials while dealing with children. We also focus on social media awareness campaigns on child protection issues and strengthening of police bodies and infrastructure across the state, among others.”
FOCUS ON CHILD-FRIENDLY HANDLING
The police are the first contact point for children who are victims of crime and children who come in conflict with law. Therefore, police personnel have a crucial role to play in protecting the rights of children who come in contact with the policing system. Child-friendly handling and timely disposal of child-related cases can help children secure speedy justice, which is the absolute right of every child.
Joint Commissioner of Police, Guwahati, IPS Partha Sarathi Mahanta said, “From child-friendly attitudinal shifts to timely and efficient disposal of cases, the Assam Police Sishu Mitra Programme has been able to make a meaningful impact in the area of child rights. We are working to ensure that the rights of children are upheld and protected throughout the entire process of justice delivery.”
SPECIAL TRAINING ON CHILD PROTECTION
One of the objectives of the Assam Police Sishu Mitra Programme is to transform Assam Police into a strong child-friendly police force as per indicators set forth in international and national laws.
Commissioner Singh said, “Since its initiation, more than 1000 police officers have been trained in child protection across 33 districts of Assam. 400 Investigation Officers have been provided resource support while dealing with child-related cases, and more than 100 educative materials have been published on Assam Police social media handles that have a viewership of more than 5 lakh users.”
Another important objective of the Sishu Mitra Programme is to protect the rights of children who come in contact with the policing system.
Joint Commissioner Mahanta said, “Our focus is on being totally child-friendly and ensuring that any child who comes to us is treated with care and sensitivity. While ensuring timely and efficient disposal of cases that are related to children, we make sure that their rights are respected and protected. The Assam Police Sishu Mitra Programme is playing a meaningful role in educating and sensitising our personnel on child rights.”
In keeping step with the world in upholding child rights and endeavouring to raise a child-friendly force in the state, Assam Police is walking on the right tract right now, and the symbolic blue Illumination of its symbols of administration on World Children’s Day seemed to highlight just that.
