A team of two members of LAF (Mr. Vijay Hansaria, President, LAF & Ms. Sneha Kalita, Asst. Treasurer, LAF) made a visit to Guwahati between 2nd and 4th April 2010 to have personal meetings with Chief Justice and Judges of High Court and Officials of State Governments of the State of Assam to convince them about the need of the monitoring mechanism and reporting system by the Juvenile Justice Boards.

The aforesaid two members alongwith Mr. Mrinal K. Choudhury, President and Ms. Marry Gogoi Medhi, Mr. Santanu Sarkar, Joint Secretaries of Assam Chapter of LAF met Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Acting Chief Justice and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Amitava Roy, Senior most judge of Gauhati High Court and explained them the need and importance of monitoring and reporting mechanism for improving the Juvenile Justice System. Copies of draft consultation papers were also given to them with a request to attend the National Consultation on 23rd April 2010 at New Delhi and give their suggestion on the draft paper. Both the Hon'ble Judges were receptive about the project.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice I.A. Ansari, Member of the Advisory Committee of the Project was out of station and hence meeting could not be held with at Guwahati. However, Mr. Hansaria met Justice Ansari at Delhi on 4th April, 2010 and gave him a copy of the draft consultation paper and requested him to positively attend the National Consultation on 23rd April, 2010 at New Delhi. Justice Ansari assured that he will give his inputs on draft consultation paper and make all attempts to attend National Consultation at New Delhi.

Meetings were also held Mr. Hemanga Sharma, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Government of Assam and Mrs. Junu Neog, Deputy Director, Social Welfare Department, Government of Assam. They were also given the copies o the draft consultation paper. The officers appreciated the effort of the LAF in their attempt to improve the Juvenile Justice System in Assam and assured all cooperation and support. The Commissioner also discussed with his officials about disbursement of funds for implementation of the scheme proposed by the LAF. They were also invited to attend National Consultation on 23rd April ,2010 at New Delhi.

Further meetings were held with Mr. Mukesh Sahay, IPS, Addl. Director General of Police, Assam; Mr. A.K. Jha, IPS, Nodal Officer, Special Juvenile Police Unit, Assam, Mr. M.K.Gupta, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Assam; and Ms. M K Lugtipi, Additional SP, CID. Ms. Malini Gohain Saikia, Executive Member, LAF, Assam Chapter also joined in the meeting. The police officers said that recently they have appointed Child Welfare Officers in all the police station in Assam and handed over copy of the same to LAF. However, they explained that there is very little awareness about the Special Juvenile Police Unit at the ground level. The police officers welcomed the initiative by the LAF about sensitizing the police personnel and appreciated the draft monitoring mechanism and assured that their response to the draft consultation paper would be sent to LAF soon. They were also invited to attend National Consultation on 23rd April, 2010 at New Delhi in response to which one of the officers promised to attend the National Consultation.

Meeting was also held with Dr. Suchitra Kakoty, Chairperson of Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights which was recently constituted. The Chairperson was told that the Commission has very important responsibility in the Juvenile Justice System and it must play a key role in the monitoring mechanism project being evolved by LAF. LAF assured all support to the Commission in its activities. Dr. Kakoty was also invited to attend National Consultation on 23rd April, 2010 at New Delhi in response to which she promised to attend the National Consultation if budgetary support is provided. The aforesaid members of National Team of LAF met the entire executive body of LAF, Assam Chapter and discussed about the steps to be taken for implementation of the project. It was decided that a power point presentation on the monitoring mechanism would be made to the stakeholders under the Juvenile Justice System some in May / June 2010 and thereafter follow up action would be taken so that appropriate orders are issued by the concerned authorities implementing the monitoring mechanism.