Pune: Since the inception six months ago of the Bharosa Cell (Cops’ Hub) at the Police Commissioner’s Office, the Special Juvenile Protection Unit has counselled 435 juveniles in conflict with the law to steer them towards a better life. The cell, which is the brainchild of Police Commissioner Dr K Venkatesham, was inaugurated by CM Fadnavis on January 9 this year. The cell is divided into three units to resolve grievances of senior citizen, women and children. The cell has got a panel of counsellors, psychologists, lawyers, social workers and police officers. 

The Bharosa Cell, along with NGOs Life School Foundation and Pankh Foundation, have conducted 25 meetings at the police station-level and nine at divisional-ACP level. 

A total of 435 juveniles and 135 parents were counselled in these last six months. 

According to Bharosa Cell officials, the children are counselled so they lose criminal habits and stay away from bad company and get educated. Their parents are counselled to behave properly with their wards and stop their addiction. The officials keep track of these juveniles to wean them away from criminal elements and crimes. The officials said there were 90 children - both boys and girls – whose parents brought them to the unit for counselling as they were not behaving properly, left school, or were addicted to mobile phones or other substances.