Fully equipped Kellys home struggles to train transient inmates

The Social Justice Department officials are struggling to formulate training programmes that would benefit these children.

The observation home at Kellys houses under trial juveniles, who often come from broken families, is equipped to train the children in as many as 353 technical trades including plumbing, automobile repair and tailoring among others. 

However, as most of the inmates obtain bail within a few days – the strength fluctuates between 20 and 60 – fixing training courses for them has been a challenge, said officials of Directorate of Social Defence under whom the observations homes in the state come.

“We have regular school, which is taken care of by NGOs, and vocational training, apart from yoga and counselling sessions. But because there is no fixed period for their stay at the home, it has not been practically possible to come up with programmes for them,” said R Lalvena, Commissioner, Directorate of Social Defence. The duration of their stay at the home is decided by the Juvenile Justice Board that grants bail, which it decides independently. 

The directorate, which has tied up with TN Skill Development Corporation to provide training in various technical trades, gives these youngsters the option to continue their vocational training even after coming out on bail. “But very few do so,” added the Commissioner. 

“The convicted juveniles are sent to the special home in Chengalpattu where they spend years. So, training them has not been a problem and many of them have secured employment on successful completion of courses. But the Kellys home houses trial offenders, whose stay would keep varying,” pointed out Chief Probation Officer (CPO) Alfred David. 

Elaborating on the difficulties in dealing with children in conflict with law, the CPO said most of them were either from broken families or trapped in alcoholism and substance abuse due to lack of parental care and peer group influence. 

“Even if they are let free within the home, they feel restricted due to withdrawal symptoms and other psychological factors. So, to make them do something is not an easy task. Also, repeated offenders know that they will get bail, so won’t show interest in learning. However, we let them free within the home and they regularly play cricket and volleyball. Keeping them in confinement is not just,” David added. 

Another major problem the department faces is the shortage of probation officers. “There are currently 34 probation officers and 15 legal-cum-probation officers. But we need at least three more probation officers in each district, for which we have been seeking direction from the Centre. It is crucial as they profile each child who ends up in observation home and create data of their social background. They need to get details from children themselves, as well as visit their families. It involves a lot of groundwork and requires dedicated and trained officials,” said Commissioner Lalvena.