PRAYAS IS BORN

• 1988 –Devastating fire in Jahangirpuri Re-settlement slums (north Delhi –now north West) –Thousands destitute, including children on streets
• Amod K. Kanth, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) on the spot-investigation turned into Rehabilitation program for the neglected & destitute children•Crime Branch Delhi Police Contact Centre, a unit of Missing Persons Squad focused on children, run by a Lady Inspector & a Team of socially spirited junior police functionaries
• 1989 –‘Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre Society’registered to help the neglected, vagrant & delinquent juveniles, missing & no-where children
• The Centre converted into a collaborative partnership of Delhi Police, Delhi School of Social Work (DSSW) & Shramik Vidyapeeth (SVP).
• Beginning of journey 25 (to 50,000) children in two room Low Income Group (LIG) flat. Jointly run by the policewomen / men & DSSW student / trainees
• Developing programs of joyful learning, counselling, child protection,
  restoration & rehabilitation.

JUVENILE JUSTICE –THE FOCUS OF PRAYAS

• Genesis of Juvenile Justice & Police –Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre, comparable to Juvenile Aid Police Unit (JAPU) of Mumbai Police
• Adopted the legal concept of care, protection, treatment, development & rehabilitation of neglected & delinquent juveniles under Juvenile Justice Act, 1986
• Prayas JAC centre, first ever integrated partnership project between police & social workers –a nucleus for juvenile justice
• Joint Team led by successive lady Inspectors, Praveen Dutt, Asha Thakur, Sudesh Kumari with DSSW trainees & SVP Vocational Instructors
• (Prof.) R. N. Yadav, first Project Manager UGC Research Scholar on street children transplanted from DSSW to Jahangirpuri centre
• Expanding charter of activities responding to children’s needs in the community setting
• Dynamics of police & social work, conflicts on resolution course the developing model of juvenile justice.

DELHI POLICE & JUVENILE JUSTICE CONVENTIONAL VS. PRO-ACTIVE APPROACHES

PRAYAS: A HOLISTIC JOURNEY PRAYAS: A HOLISTIC JOURNEY
TOWARDS JUVENILE JUSTICE TOWARDS JUVENILE JUSTICE

• 1993-1996 – Holistic care Holistic care – Responding to the growing Needs & the basic Rights of Children's Protection, Survival, Development & Participation in terms of United Nations Convention of United Nations Convention of Rights of Child -1989 & the crystallizing juvenile justice philosophy of Prayas.
• Coverage from 500 to 5000 neglected children - Increasing number of Non Increasing number of Non -formal Education formal Education (NFE) & Vocational Training Centers (NFE) & Vocational Training Centers
• Programs for child protection, care & maintenance, development, restoration & rehabilitation restoration & rehabilitation– Expanding coverage through centers Expanding coverage through centers
• Provision of clothing & shoes, basic nutrition, mid-day meals & health care, counselling & day meals & health care, counselling & recreation recreation – Each activity being pre Each activity being pre-requisites for the fulfillment of the rights of children in requisites for the fulfillment of the rights of children in terms of their basic needs terms of their basic needs
• Growing national concerns for the neglected children, reflected more in the voluntary than the more in the voluntary than the governmental sector governmental sector
• Issues like child labour, juvenile neglect & delinquency, trafficking, abuse & exploitation of cking, abuse & exploitation of children children – Catching popular imagination Catching popular imagination
• Serious problems of the shelter -less, destitute & street children less, destitute & street children – Need for shelters with Need for shelters with multiple care, protection & development programs multiple care, protection & development programs
• Prayas, an attempt to convert & coalesce the entire range of juvenile/ children, neglect & enile/ children, neglect & disadvantaged into a legal, policy & administrative commitment disadvantaged into a legal, policy & administrative commitment
• Concretizing the concept of juvenile justice – Fulfillment of needs & rights of protection & care, education, health, recreation & shelter, just & fair treat care, education, health, recreation & shelter, just & fair treatment, exclusive to the criminal ment, justice system