Helpline turns lifeline for children

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, January 21

As many as 940 children have been rehabilitated and provided relief by 1098 Tele Helpline — CHILDLINE— in the last five years in Solan, with 264 having been rescued from abuse.

The figures were shared by CHILDLINE’s district coordinator Anita Sharma at the 4th task force meeting convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kanwar today. Representatives of departments like Police, Health, Education, Child Welfare Committee, Social Justice and Empowerment were in attendance.

The fact that as many as 332 children have been provided emotional support and guidance in the last five years is an indication of the vulnerability of these hapless children. Data revealed that while 108 children were provided medical help, 39 bereft of shelter were provided care and 32 were united with their families. Eleven cases of missing children were also reported while 30 cases of children lost in the district were also dealt with by the helpline. An isolated case of death of a child was reported in 2014-2015.

Children facing varied problems like conflict with law or those whose parents sought help were also referred to the helpline and they were provided relief. While merely 81 cases were referred to the helpline in 2012-2013, the number abruptly rose to 218 and 245 in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. The helpline dealt with 240 cases in 2015-2016 and the number now stands at 156 in the current year. The five-year statistics provided by the helpline indicated a high number of vulnerable children present in the district which was among the fast developing districts of the state.

The Deputy Commissioner stressed the need to re-constitute its advisory board so as to include more public representatives and NGOs to help the tele helpline achieve its optimum purpose. He said the toll-free number should be displayed prominently at public places to create awareness about its use. He directed officials to effectively coordinate and save the exploited children. Kanwar also directed the health officials to ensure immediate medical examination of children referred to them by the helpline.

He said the tele helpline provided immediate relief to the needy children and the toll-free number operated 24 hours.