JOIN USThe Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) will adopt child care institutions (CCIs) in their area of operation and groom the juveniles by providing them vocational training and other support.
The central armed police force, deployed at the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders, will start its work at the CCIs functioning in Assam by December.
It will, subsequently, adopt the CCIs registered in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
The SSB agreed to the adoption after National Commission for Protection of Child Rights approached it with a proposal in this regard.
"They will provide vocational training to juveniles in the age group of 15-18 years staying at the CCIs. They will groom them with skills that they require to earn their livelihood and become self-reliant after leaving the CCIs," Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry secretary Rakesh Srivastava told reporters at a press conference here.
For younger children staying at the CCIs, the SSB will provide medical assistance, psychological counselling among other support facilities.
"Children to be groomed by the SSB at these CCIs may also get opportunity to join security forces," another official added.
According to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, a CCI means Children's Home, Open Shelter, Observation Home, Special Home, Specialised Adoption Agency and a fit facility created as per the provisions of the law for providing care and protection to children in need of such services.
The Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry has observed various shortcomings in many of the CCIs' functioning.