Childline plans to extend its area of operation

In the wake of the increased cases of child abuses in the district, the Childline is planning to extent the area of its operation.

A home for children will also be set up in the district as children are sent for rehabilitation at present in Kottayam district. Childline district-coordinator Tijo Joseph on Saturday said that 350 cases of child abuses had been reported in the district since its operation began in August last year.

It has also been noted that only a minor portion of the cases of child abuses reach before the Childline which is functioning in co-ordination of police with schools and other institutions for children. The Childline handles cases related to the violence of children in addition to the mental and physical harassment and abuse on them. It has also been noticed that there is a tendency among elders and school authorities to hide atrocities on children. Due to poor education and fear of publicity, parents also fail to report violence against children which results in fewer cases reaching the Childline.

Sometimes delayed information is reached before Childline on children needed protection and care. The Childline also plans to launch awareness campaign based on schools, he said and added that it handled 25 cases of sexual abuses on children. Cases related to child labour are less though some cases of migrant child labour have been reported recently. Plantation sector is almost free of child labour though such cases are reported in unorganised sectors like hotels and shops.

There is a Child Welfare Committee based at Thodupuzha where five trained persons handle cases related to child abuses in addition to a nodal office working at Mariyan College, Kuttikkanam. The main office of the Childline is at Kattappana. Its helpline number is 1098.