Justice for Children App Review – An Informative Resource for all things Law, Policies and Contacts around Child Protection

In an attempt to connect and familiarize the masses with child protection structures, laws, policies, guidelines and stakeholders working with children, Antakshari Foundation, Department of Child Rights, Rajasthan and UNICEF have come up with an Android app – Justice for Children. The app, which is currently available on Google Playstore, sees itself as “a platform to create linkages between citizens and functional structures established for the welfare and protection of children.” We downloaded ‘Justice for Children’ to see how it works.

Features:

The app, once installed, requires a login/registration process enabling each user to create a profile. It has an option to login using Facebook or Google Plus, or you can register by entering details including Mobile Number, Name etc. Once all the details are filled in, the app sends an OTP for verification on the registered mobile number. After verification, the app can be used.

After opening, the home screen has a tile layout (similar to Windows 8) with each tile representing categories – Resource Directory, Knowledge Hub, Information Centre, Social Aid, Support & Services, Solution Exchange and J4C Journal. On the top left corner is the menu button which allows you to switch the language between Hindi and English, edit your profile and logout. The top right icon consists of contact details, disclaimers and about the organizations who created the app.

The navigation is extremely simple with each option in each category/screen cleanly laid out.

Content:

Resource Directory screen lists out organizations working with children including NCPCR, CWC, JJB, DCPU and others and consists of contact details of members and staff. One has to select a state and then a district which then gives a list of phone numbers and email-id of the staff members. However, while going through the list of states we found that Maharashtra was missing from it.

Knowledge Hub section is about laws, policies, schemes and programs, guidelines and other resources on child rights and acts.

Information Centre is a media hub consisting of motivational songs, videos, and news paper clippings on child-related issues.

There is a section named ‘Social Aid’ which allows registration for NGOs, Sponsors and Children. Each option has a registration form designed for NGOs and children who require support and for Sponsors who want to contribute towards child welfare. We tried accessing the database of Sponsors, but did not find anything in any state.

The Support & Services screen consists of shortcuts to NCPCR, RSCPCR, DCR Rajasthan and Child Protection Support Desk websites. It also has buttons for ‘Call Childline’ and ‘Call Police’.

Then there is a ‘Solution Exchange’ tile which when opened looks like a messaging app. One needs to enter ‘subject’ and ‘message’ and there is an option to send it. We aren’t sure where the queries go. We tried asking a simple question, but got no reply for 2 days. According to the user guide of the app, solution exchange “enables users to seek or exchange solution for their queries and experts can share their experiences and provide technical guidance and support to the users”.

J4C Journal tab consists of just one file ‘Journal on JJ Act, 2015. It is a quarterly journal of Antakshari Foundation and offers perspectives, viewpoints and updates from child protection in Hindi and English. Although it is a quarterly journal, the section had just one file/edition and looks like the section is not updated frequently.

Conclusion:

Justice for Children is a simple, informative app which gets all the basics right. Although the app can better with timely updates and new content, it is still an informative resource center for all things laws, policies and contacts around child protection.