S. 107 mandates the appointment of a Child Welfare Police Officer In every police station. The section reads: at least one officer, not below the rank of assistant sub-inspector, with aptitude, appropriate training and orientation may be designated as the child welfare police officer to exclusively deal with children either as victims or perpetrators, in co-ordination with the police, voluntary and non-governmental organisations. Please note the word 'exclusively'. It will not be legally tenable to have one officer named as the Child Welfare Police Officer in the police station and then give him all sorts of work. He must be dealing exclusively with child protection. Now the question can be what shall they do if they have only this work. They can be instrumental in the following : #### NEIGHBOURHOODS 1. Patrol neighbourhoods and watch out for unprotected pits, wells, ponds or water bodies that might pose a threat to the safety of children passing by. 2. Watch out for shops or persons dealing in articles unsuitable for children in places accessible to children. #### CONVEYANCE Monitor School buses or other vehicles carrying children for safety considerations. 3. Ensure there is/are no overloading, unsecured doors/openings. 4. Ensure drivers and handymen are properly vetted by schools #### SCHOOL/ EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 5. Monitor adherence to proper building code 6. Look out for sale of pan/ tobacco or other illegal items around educational institutions. 7. Watch out for corporal punishment, super heavy bags, ragging, bullying etc. #### CHILDCARE INSTITUTIONS, HOSTELS 8. Ensure no unauthorised Childcare Institutions are functioning and that the authorised ones adhere to set standards( See Appendix 2 for details) 9. Ensure Hostels lodging children are registered with authorities and they adhere to set standards. #### SHOPS, MARKETS, INDUSTRIES, RESIDENTIAL AREAS,PUBLICSPACES 10. Ensure that children are not employed for child labour. 11. Watch out for children being trafficked, traffickers posing as parents at Railway Stations, Bus Stations, Check posts etc. 12. Watch out for trafficked children in known Red Light Areas. --- They also have an special role in ENSURING CARE FOR CHILDREN BY CHILD CARE INSTITUTIONS(CCIS) ##### REGISTRATION, FUNDING 1. Ensure the Childcare Institution is registered with the authorities. 2. Know the funding sources of the Childcare Institution and ensure that there is no pilferage. Also ensure that photoes of children are not used for soliciting funds. ##### INMATES. 3. Ensure family of all the children are traced and they have access to their children 4. Ensure details of all children whose families are still untraced are uploaded in the trackthemissingchild portal ##### MANAGEMENT AND STAFF 5. Ensure that the Childcare Institution has sufficient no of care takers and that all the staff are qualified and that all the personnel having access to children( such as driver of school bus, cook) are properly vetted by the management for their character and suitability. 6. Ensure no unauthorised person has access to children staying in the Childcare Institution ##### BASIC NEEDS -FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHS, EDUCATION,MEDICAL CARE 7. Ensure the building is safe ( especially for fire safety), and secure( access, exit control). 8. Ensure children get sufficient food, cloths. 9. Ensure children are sent to school and are provided with medical care when required. ##### ACCESS TO CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE AND GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL 10. Ensure inmates of the Childcare Institution has sufficient avenues for grievance redressal and access to Child Welfare Committee.