New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) affiliated School of Law (SOL), New Delhi, will soon introduce a new programme namely Diploma course in Child Rights, Child Protection and Juvenile Justice. The programme will be introduced in collaboration with PRAYAS. The announcement regarding the launch of the programme was made by Prof. V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU.
The minimum eligibility prescribed for admission into the programme is that the candidate should be a graduate in any discipline, but preferably, the learner should be MA in Social work/ psychology/ sociology from a recognized university or PG Diploma in rehabilitation psychology or professionals having minimum two years of working experience with law enforcement agency.
According to a statement issued by Mr Pillai, the newly launched course is designed to create career opportunities and to provide specialized training, understanding and working on modern issues of the juvenile justice system and child protection in the country. He said that it would also be useful for the professionals already working on the child related issues to further develop the much needed skills as well as identification of the appropriate resources and treatment plans available in the community.
Besides, the VC while talking about the need of the course mentioned that the Special Juvenile Police Units, at least one police officer with ability and appropriate training and orientation is required to be designated as the Juvenile and Child Welfare Officer. He said that to fulfill legal mandate and keeping India’s promise to save the rights of children there is a huge demand of trained personnel in dealing with ‘Children in need of care and protection’ and ‘Juveniles in conflict with law’.”
The personnel who are already in contact with such category of children (Lawyers, police officers, NGO personnel, CWC member and social workers) need some kind of skill development training to work effectively. Diploma course in Child Rights, Child Protection and Juvenile Justice would be one year, part-time wherein 8 courses (7 theoretical, 1 practical) would be taught. The practical aspect would cover the internship in observation homes, child welfare committees and non-governmental organizations’.
