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Journalism of Courage
In the wake of the Union Cabinet passing the National Child Policy that finally resolved the question of who is a child last week,the Juvenile Justice Act that is being amended,will replace the word juvenile with child.
The National Child Policy for the first time gives a uniform definition of a child as a person aged less than 18 years. It also marks a clear shift from a welfare-centric 1974 policy to rights-based approach towards children. Officials say J J Act will be the first legislation to harbour this spirit.
An official with the Ministry of Women and Child Development said the new name of Act has not been decided. The committee has reached a consensus on replacing the word juvenile because over the years,the word has come to signify an underage person in conflict with the law as against the word child where the individual is deemed innocent,it has acquired a pejorative implication. Even the existing law deals not only with the penal provisions but also the structure for care and protection of the child. That aspect will be emphasised in the new name, the official said.
The new child policy,officials say has left that elbow room in its provision that children should be handled in an age-appropriate manner.
