CHILDLINE averts Child marriage of boy

While boys and girls who marry in childhood do not face the same risks and consequences due to biological and social differences, the practice is nonetheless a rights violation for children of both sexes. Similar to child brides, child grooms are forced to take on adult responsibilities for which they may not be prepared. The union may bring early fatherhood and result in additional economic pressure in the form of providing for the household; it may also constrain the boy’s access to education and opportunities for career advancement.

CHILDLINE received a call from an officer from Women Empowerment Cell informing about a child marriage. The caller wanted help from CHILDLINE to stop child marriage from happening. An 18 years old boy’s family were forcefully marrying him. CHILDLINE team along with the Police reached the child’s home. Meanwhile Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPU), Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Women Empowerment Cell (WEC) staff also reached child’s house. The Joint team verified the documents of the child and as per Child’s Aadhar card and school report, they found out that child’s age was 18 years. Counsellor informed them about the prohibition of child marriage and Prohibition Act as well as the health issues the boy may face due to child marriage.

Child’s family informed that they were not aware about the law and agreed that they will marry their son after he completes the age of 21 years.   

Timely intervention by CHILDLINE team managed to cancel the child marriage with the help of SJPU, WEC and CWC.

Disclaimer :  Names and details have been changed to maintain confidentiality as required.  

How to identify behavioural disorders in Children

India, a developing country has large population, of whom significant proportions are children attending school. Behavioural problems and psychiatric syndromes in the children are a matter of concern as the consequences can seriously impair their ability to become useful & productive citizens of tomorrow

In the present era where every day we are stepping ahead to technological advancement, with the increasing pressure in children to achieve, breaking up of the families and rapidly changing sociocultural paradigm, rise in the behaviour problems in children are also similarly steep and disrupting.

It is common for children and teens to get into trouble and be irritable or aggressive from time to time, especially during the toddler and early teen years. For instance, a young child may have a temper tantrum or a teenager may talk back or argue with you now and then.

Disordered behaviour is different from typical developmental behaviour because it happens more often than not and causes problems in more than one setting. For example, the behaviour not only affects school and home life but can make friendships and other peer relationships difficult.

Warning signs that your child might have a mental health condition include:

·         Mood changes. Look for feelings of sadness or withdrawal that last at least two weeks or severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships at home or school.

·         Intense feelings. Be aware of feelings of overwhelming fear for no reason sometimes with a racing heart or fast breathing or worries or fears intense enough to interfere with daily activities.

·         Behaviour changes. These include drastic changes in behaviour or personality, as well as dangerous or out-of-control behaviour. Fighting frequently, using weapons and expressing a desire to badly hurt others also are warning signs.

·         Difficulty concentrating. Look for signs of trouble focusing or sitting still, both of which might lead to poor performance in school.

·         Unexplained weight loss. A sudden loss of appetite, frequent vomiting or use of laxatives might indicate an eating disorder.

·         Physical symptoms. Compared with adults, children with a mental health condition might develop headaches and stomach-aches rather than sadness or anxiety.

·         Physical harm. Sometimes a mental health condition leads to self-injury, also called self-harm. This is the act of deliberately harming your own body, such as cutting or burning yourself. Children with a mental health condition also might develop suicidal thoughts or attempt suicide.

·         Substance abuse. Some kids use drugs or alcohol to try to cope with their feelings.

CHILDLINE rescues boy from being used as child labour

As reported by Save the Children, children between the ages of 14–17 years engage in hazardous work and account for 62.8% of India’s child labour workforce in which more boys than girls (38.7 million vs. 8.8 million) are forced into doing more hazardous work. Child labour used to be most ubiquitous in rural India in which 80% of working children found work.

CHILDLINE  team in Tungri Chibasa, West Singhbhum carried a joint rescue operation along with Labour Department and Police. CHILDLINE rescued 13 years old male child during the joint rescue operation. The child was found working in a garage in hazardous condition. An FIR was lodged against the employer under the JJ Act by Labour Enforcement officer in Sadar Thana, Chibasa. As standard protocol, CHILDLINE team presented the child before Child Welfare Committee (CWC). As per the order from CWC, the child was kept in shelter home for temporary period.

CHILDLINE team presented the child along with the child’s parents before Child Welfare Committee (CWC) again. As per the CWC order child was handed back to his family.    

CHILDLINE 1098, India’s phone helpline service for children in distress, rescues and rehabilitates thousands of child labourers every year throughout the country. Child labour cases have increased marginally by 11.71% during the year 2018-19 as compared to the previous year which includes mainly children who are involved in work at restaurant/dhaba, hazardous work, domestic work, beggary and sex trades. It was also observed that 77% of children involved in labour activity were males. (Figures recorded from April 2018 to March 2019)

Disclaimer:  Names and details have been changed to maintain confidentiality as required.

How kids should deal with Bullying

Bullying is a problem that begins at an early age and goes on until adulthood. Often, the victims of bullying carry scars of their trauma throughout their lives. Bullying has become a major problem in the school and college systems of India today. In colleges, ‘ragging’ is considered a rite of passage, where senior students taunt and ridicule junior students in the name of ‘healthy interaction’. The performance of students in these ragging sessions determines how they will be treated for the rest of their time in college. In schools as well, students often target their weaker peers, often making fun of them for disabilities, their physical appearance or their academic performance. This phenomenon has gone beyond just fun and games as it results in many fatalities either by the victims committing suicide or during an incident of ragging or bullying. Thus, the Government of India has come up with certain laws in an effort to combat this issue.

Here are some other strategies to discuss with kids that can help improve the situation and make them feel better:

Avoid the bully and use the buddy system: Use a different bathroom if a bully is nearby and don't go to your locker when there is nobody around. Make sure you have someone with you so that you're not alone with the bully. Buddy up with a friend on the bus, in the hallways, or at recess — wherever the bully is. Offer to do the same for a friend.

Hold the anger: It's natural to get upset by the bully, but that's what bullies thrive on. It makes them feel more powerful. Practice not reacting by crying or looking red or upset. It takes a lot of practice, but it's a useful skill for keeping off of a bully's radar. Sometimes kids find it useful to practice "cool down" strategies such as counting to 10, writing down their angry words, taking deep breaths, or walking away. Sometimes the best thing to do is to teach kids to wear a "poker face" until they are clear of any danger (smiling or laughing may provoke the bully).

Act brave, walk away, and ignore the bully: Firmly and clearly tell the bully to stop, then walk away. Practice ways to ignore the hurtful remarks, like acting uninterested or texting someone on your cell phone. By ignoring the bully, you're showing that you don't care. Eventually, the bully will probably get bored with trying to bother you.

Tell an adult: Teachers, principals, parents, and lunchroom personnel at school can all help stop bullying.

Talk about it: Talk to someone you trust, such as a guidance counsellor, teacher, sibling, or friend. They may offer some helpful suggestions, and even if they can't fix the situation, it may help you feel a little less alone.