| While the country is witness to increase in the involvement of juveniles in criminal acts, J&K seems to be not much serious about the serious issue the society is faced with. Juvenile Justice Care and Protection Act was passed by the government in 1997, followed by its amendments in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013. The Act has a provision for rehabilitation of the misguided juveniles and setting up of observation homes, district level committees and juvenile courts but it has been observed with regret that the state government, for unknown reasons, lacks the will to implement it in letter and spirit. The rehabilitation of the spoilt juveniles was felt to be of utmost importance to direct them on the right path and preparing them as responsible, law-abiding citizens. In India, juveniles form a large chunk of population, so their problems just can't be ignored. Especially of those, who, willingly or unwillingly, get dragged into the crime world. Once they mend their ways and start contributing their share in the national development, India can say with proud that its future was going to be secure in the hands of its young blood. They are a vulnerable group and every possible step is to be taken to prevent them from derailing. The cases of school dropouts and other spoilt juveniles are to be brought to the notice of Juvenile Boards or Counselling Centres by the Mohalla Committees or other social groups so that the experts, appointed by the government for the purpose of giving them right direction, immediately get in touch in them and provide them the right direction. The juveniles, even if they are arrested in heinous crimes, are not to be kept with hardened criminals in jails. They must be lodged in separate 'homes', where special arrangements should be made to refine them. These 'homes' should work as reformation centres so that they do not commit any further crimes after they are free. The government has also increased the age of juveniles from 16 to 18 as most of the crimes were being committed by them between the age of 16 and 18. Let the government treat such juveniles as its own children and guide them on the right path like the parents who imbibe good habits in their siblings. With such an approach, they could very well be guided on the right track. This could be a great contribution of juvenile homes towards the nation building. |
