Mysuru: Assistant Child Welfare Police Officer G.S. Prasanna Kumar was felicitated by Minister Umashree in Bengaluru during Children’s Day for his service at the Special Juvenile Police Unit located in Lashkar Police Station, Mysuru.

The Women and Child Welfare Department, since the last three years,  is celebrating Makkala Habba in November. It is identifying officer, staff and the public who are working in the interest of the children in the State and felicitating the Achievers and Prasanna Kumar has been chosen as an Achiever this year.

Mysuru City’s Special Juvenile Police Unit has also been chosen for the first time for creating a ‘child-friendly environment’ in the State. City Police Commissioner Dr. A. Subrahmanyeswara Rao has lauded Prasanna for his achievement and also announced a cash award.

The Special Juvenile Police Unit was set up on Sept. 5, 2012 where Police officers and staff are involved in protecting the interest and rights of the children.

Department of Police, Mysuru, and Empowerment of Children and Human Rights Organisation – Centre for Juvenile Justice, Bengaluru, in collaboration with People’s Legal Forum established this Unit. Prasanna has been involved in this Unit since its inception as Assistant Child Welfare Police Officer. The Unit functions as a Special Police Station and attends to cases of juvenile offenders. The common offences committed by juveniles include pick-pocket, theft of mobile phones, water metres and other petty crimes.  

This Unit is involved in interacting with abandoned children, child workers, those subjected to child marriages and children involved in begging. It makes effort to trace missing children, unite them with their parents, and wherever necessary rehabilitate them, according to a press release from the Police Commissioner’s Office.