Ramanathapuram
After launching a series of pro-active measures and awareness programmes, the Childline India Foundation, Social welfare Department Child welfare committee (CWC) and District Child Protection Unit (CPU) have jointly prevented as many as 95 child marriages in the district between November 2018 and October 2019.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, on ‘Childline Se Dosti’, the weeklong programme to make the citizens become stakeholders in Childline Helpline - 1098, S. Karuppasamy, District Childline Director, said they had rescued child brides after stopping 95 child marriages compared to 90 in the previous year.
He said after stopping the child marriages, the officials followed up the cases, helping children who wished to pursue education. In other cases, the officials ensured that the marriages were conducted after the girls attained the age of 18 years, he said.
He said after receiving 2,423 calls through Childline helpline ‘1098’, officials made 1,299 interventions and rescued children who were in distress. They had rescued 40 child labours, traced 23 children who went missing, rescued 31 children who were found begging and united with families, 31 children who ran away from their homes, he said.
The officials had also identified 229 ‘dropout children’ and helped them to continue education, he said. Besides, the foundation, with the help of other agencies, arranged medical treatment for 50 under privileged children, Mr. Karuppasamy said.
As part of the Childline se Dosti, they proposed to organise a series of programmes such as signature movement, awareness through cultural programmes, inspection at railway stations and bus stands, training for self-help groups on child marriages and creating awareness of crime against children, he said.
Arunkumar from District Social Welfare Department, S. Durairaj, Child Protection Committee president, S. Devaraj and M. Anandaraj from Childline were among others present.
