One call to the helpline made all the difference. This was the perception of many parents and children who got timely help after calling 1098.
Child marriage stopped
Recollecting how help came at her doorstep, the aunt of a 16-year-old who was set to be married off, said, “I told the parents that it was a crime to get their minor daughter married, but they refused to listen. So I called the helpline and they stopped the marriage,” she said. The proud aunt says the girl will soon be writing her Class 10 exams.
Another chance
Sometimes, children themselves dial 1098. Narrating how he took the bold decision to call, a 12-year-old boy who lives near Magadi Main Road said his parents did not allow him to attend school. He often had to accompany his mother, a rag picker. “I called the aunty on the helpline and asked her to help me.” The boy was rescued last month and put up in an NGO. He hopes to start school soon.
