By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK: In order to ensure safety of children exclusively to deal with the issues of missing/trafficking of children in the state, 37 Integrated Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) have been established in all 36 Police districts and at CID-CB, Odisha. 3.99 crores rupees have been received for setting up and strengthening Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) throughout the State. Purchase and delivery of items are under process.
Mahila and Sishu Desks (Women and Child Desk) have been set up in 537 Police Stations of the State in order to receive complaints relating to Children, listen to their grievance with sympathy and ensure proper legal action. As per Govt. of Odisha Notification No.15125/CP&M, Bhubaneswar, Date 03.04.2018, State Government has also notified that Police Officers posted to Mahila and Sishu Desk are designated as Juvenile Welfare Officer as per provision of Section 107(1) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015.Five crores rupees have been received for strengthening Mahila and Sishu Desk in 500 Police Stations throughout the State. Purchase and delivery of items are under process.
Web Portal “TRACK CHILD” has been made functional w.e.f. 31st January, 2013 for tracing of missing children. Photograph and particulars of both missing and recovered children are regularly uploaded on this portal by all the District SsP/ DCsP.Regular video conferences are being conducted by DGP, Odisha and ADGP, CID/Crime, Odisha on the issues of missing/trafficked children and instructions have been given to take effective measures to prevent trafficking/ missing children.
As per Govt. of Odisha Notification No 15134/CP&M, Bhubaneswar, Date 03.04.2018, State Government has constituted the Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) as per provision of Section 107(2) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 in every district (36 Police districts) to coordinate on all issues related to children.Police Circular Order (PCO) No 344/2013 has been issued to all Dist SsP/SsRP/DCsP for registration of cases on all reports of missing children without any deviation.
Crime Branch Circular Order No. 02 of 2020 has been issued to all district SsP, DCsP Bhubaneswar/ Cuttack, SsRP Cuttack/Rourkela in form of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure covering all aspects by local police in enquiry/investigation of cases of the missing persons. Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for prevention of Child labour has been issued to all district SsP vide Letter No 46247/CID-IAHTU, date 19.12.2017.Advisories have been issued for proper verification/visit of shelter homes to all district Supdts. of Police and all stakeholders.
(10) Odisha Police in technical collaboration with UNICEF has organised a campaign titled “PAREE PAIEN KATHATIYE” from 28.05.2018 to 12.06.2018 to sensitize the general public against sexual harassment on minor girl.Advisories have been issued to prevent trafficking of girls through placement agencies on the pretext of Job to all district Supdts. of Police vide this office Letter No 39498/CID-IAHTU, dated 28.10.2018.
Standard Operating procedure for checking and prevention of Child Marriage has been issued to all district Supdts. of Police vide this office Letter No 47181/CID-IAHTU, dated 26.12.2018. Two days online training on Child Marriage was held on 23rd & 24th December, 2020 127 Police officers were attended the online training.
Time to time State Level Conference/ training programmes were conducted on POCSO Act, JJ Act, Child Labour Act, Child Marriage Act etc to sensitize the field level police officers.
A Standard Operating Procedure(SOP) vide Letter No 39337/CID-IAHTU, Date 13.11.2017 in relating to Operation Smile/ Operation Muskan has been framed by CID Crime Branch and issued to all district SsP/DCsP /SsRP. Time to time dedicated campaigns such as Operation Smile, Operation Musskan and Operation Paree was conducted for rescue and rehabilitation of missing children.Odisha Police has launched a Special Drive to rescue missing children in the state since 18th January, 2021 to 25th January,2021, which continued for 8 days throughout the state .During the drive 894 nos. of Children have been rescued amongst which 94 were boys and 800 were girls. These rescues relate to 834 number of missing cases reported during previous years.
Odisha Police launched has Special Drive-II to rescue missing children in the state since 28th February, 2021 to 8th March,2021, which continued for 9 days throughout the state .During the drive 404 nos. of children have been rescued amongst which 82 were boys and 322 were girls. These rescues relate to 338 number of missing cases reported during previous years.
