Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania inaugurated "Juventica," a Police Awareness and Outreach Programme for Adolescents, at the Police Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. The initiative was organized by the Women and Child Crime Branch of Odisha Police in partnership with UNICEF and the Department of Women & Child Development
Objective:
The programme, a first-of-its-kind statewide effort, aimed to create a safe, positive, and friendly environment for children and adolescents across Odisha. DGP Khurania emphasized that adolescents are increasingly exposed to harmful and negative content on social media, leading to mental stress and emotional challenges. He stated, "In such a situation, it is the prime responsibility of all of us to give them moral education, listen to their voices carefully and provide proper advice and moral support".
Juventica is designed to make the police system more convenient, safe, and friendly for young people, encouraging adolescents to approach the police without fear and openly share their concerns. The DGP also directed all police officers to build positive relationships with adolescents and remain vigilant and compassionate regarding their safety and well-being.
The event saw massive participation, with nearly 15,000 adolescents from approximately 555 civil police stations joining the programme across the state. Members of Advika Clubs, Anganwadi workers, and Para Legal Volunteers also took part, making it a broad-based community outreach effort. During the programme, DGP Khurania interacted virtually with adolescents from various districts.
Connecting the programme to a larger framework, the initiative drew inspiration from "Infantia," a national conversation emphasizing that safe digital spaces are essential for upholding children's rights and well-being online. Other senior officials present at the launch included Crime Branch DGP Vinaytosh Mishra and Additional DGP (Women and Child Crime Branch) S. Shyni