Childline, a 24x7 children’s helpline launched by Childline India Foundation (CIF) in association with the Department of Women and Child Development, has acted on 688 calls seeking its aid last year.
Launched in Mysuru in November 2010, the helpline completed four years of its service. This year (from April till date), it received about 1,300 calls for the rescue and rehabilitation of children below 18 years of age.
Last year, out of 1,737 callers, the helpline responded to 688 calls (in the rest of the calls, either the caller could not be identified or was fake) and offered help through government departments, including the Department for Women and Child Development; the Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU), the Department of Public Instruction, and the Children Welfare Committee (CWC), according to its representatives.
“The number of callers to the helpline has gone up, thanks to awareness. About 1,300 calls, including those pertaining to violence against children, complaints of child marriages and child labour, have been received this year so far. The helpline works jointly with various departments to reach out to children in duress,” said Anil Kumar, Coordinator, Childline, Mysuru.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Kumar said the helpline, in association with the Rural Literacy and Health Project (RLHP), an NGO, was holding activities twice a week in schools to spread awareness about the helpline. “On collecting details from callers, the information is passed on to SJPU and other departments for action. The representatives of the helpline also join rescue and rehabilitation efforts,” he said.
Based on the calls, 44 child marriages were stopped and 80 children rescued from child labour last year. Also, 48 children engaged in begging were rescued and are being rehabilitated, according to statistics provided by the helpline.
The authorities acted on cases pertaining to violence against children (20 calls) and sexual abuse (seven calls). “Some women called and complained that their husbands were trying to sell their babies. Three such calls were received and SJPU took action,” Mr. Kumar said.
There were calls complaining of “physical and psychological punishment” to children in about 25 schools. “The calls were referred to concerned department for action,” he said.
