A CALL CAN CHANGE A LIFE

As a part of the field action project, Ms Jeroo Billimoria, a then professor at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) would regularly interact with children living on railway stations and night shelters. Slowly, the children started calling her at any given time of day and night, when faced with crises. She would willingly answer their calls and help them.

Over some time, she realized that it would not be possible to respond to hundreds of children each day. After much deliberations and discussions, the idea of CHILDLINE 1098 was born - a single point of contact who would help children in their hour of need and afterwards. In the inception year itself, CHILDLINE clocked in 6000 calls.

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Today, CHILDLINE receives nearly 25000 calls daily about children in need of care and protection. In the year 2018-2019 CHILDLINE received around 9 million calls.

Role of CHILDLINE in protecting children

v  When a child or a concerned adult call CHILDLINE 1098, the call is immediately routed to one of the six CHILDLINE Contact Centre (CCC) – a state-of-art facility with contemporary BPO facility.

v   If the CHILDLINE Contact Officer (CCO) receives a call for intervention, then the case is transferred to the relevant intervention unit.

v  A CHILDLINE worker from the intervention unit rushes to the aid of the child within 60 minutes of receiving the call.

v  As per the standard operating protocol, the child is produced before CHILD Welfare Committee (CWC).

v  Based on the CWC’s directions, the child is referred to the appropriate organization for care and rehabilitation.

v  CHILDLINE follows up until the child is in safe custody, either with the family or child welfare institution.

CHILDLINE intervenes to prevent a wide range of issues affecting children such as child labour, child marriage, child sexual abuse & violence, missing children, runaway children, homelessness, health and education, children in conflict with the law etc.

Currently, CHILDLINE services are present in 564+ districts and 125+ railway stations to ensure that timely help is provided to every child in distress.

CHILDLINE works in association with multiple stakeholders, including the government, civil society organizations, corporates and community to ensure that child protection becomes everyone’s mandate.

WHEN CHILDHOOD BECOMES A TIGHT ROPE WALK....

Funambulism or walking on a tight rope or wire is a common circus activity in many countries. The Funambulists train for years to balance themselves on a tight rope. In most countries, skilled adult artists perform in a circus equipped with adequate safety measures.

But in India, children as young as 5 years old are trained to walk on a tight rope tied on poles roadside often without sufficient safety measures.

In 2011, the Supreme Court banned circus activities like performing high wire stunts and juggling for children under the age of 14.  The Supreme Court also directed the Government to rescue children engaged in such activities and rehabilitate them. Despite the ban, children are engaged in such activities.

CHILDLINE received a call from a concerned adult on 1098 informing about a 5-year-old girl walking on the rope and performing dangerous stunts near the railway crossing, Mukthiyar Ganj, Satna, Madhya Pradesh.  The girl’s family was begging for money from people who gathered to see the activity.

On the basis of the information given by the caller, the local intervention unit rushed to the spot. The CHILDLINE team found that the entire family was engaged in rope circus activity. They informed the Child Welfare Committee and the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) who ordered the CHILDLINE team to rescue the child as soon as possible. 

CHILDLINE brought the child and her family to the CHILDLINE office. During the counselling, the child revealed that she has been doing such stunts since last one year. The team produced the child and her family before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).

The CWC members counselled the family. The chairperson of the CWC warned the family members of legal consequences if the child is found again working and performing dangerous stunts. The family assured CWC that they will take care of the child and enroll her in the school. The local police made arrangements for the child and her family to travel to their native place, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.

After a couple of months, CHILDLINE visited the child’s native place. But the child was not there. CHILDLINE does not have any idea about the whereabouts of the child or her family. The team sincerely hopes that the child is in a school and is not working or performing dangerous stunts.

If you come across any child being forced to work or perform any dangerous circus activity, please do not turn a blind eye. Immediately, call 1098 and report the matter.

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

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT: A CRIME THAT CAN SCAR A CHILDHOOD FOREVER

In our Indian culture, a teacher or a “guru” holds a highly revered position. Teachers play a very important role in raising responsible children. They can transform the lives of their students with the magic of their teaching. A teacher can be regarded as the builder of a good nation.

But what happens when a teacher whom students look up to engages in unfair and harsh means of discipline while teaching? There are a large number of teachers in India who resort to corporal punishment to discipline their students.

The committee on the Rights of Child in the General Comment No.8 defines ‘corporal” or “physical” punishment as “any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain and discomfort. The non-physical forms of corporal punishment include belittling and humiliating the child, especially in front of the class.”

Corporal punishment is rampant in our country. Most children do not complain and tend to suffer silently. Students who have been abused by their teachers are most likely to drop out of schools. Prolonged abuse fragments their confidence and scars their lives forever.

In the case of Radha, 16, who faced severe abuse by teachers, has not only affected her mental health but has also injured her hand severely. Radha, resident of Kolkata was studying in Saraswati Devi International Boarding School in Bankura, West Bengal. Her parents are separated. She and her father do not have any contact with the mother after her remarriage.

One day, Radha’s father called CHILDLINE 1098 and informed that she was beaten up by her school teacher, school warden and the son of the school chairman. She was beaten up so badly that her right hand got fractured. She needed immediate medical help, but the school authorities did not help her at all. Her father arrived and took her to the Bankura Sadar Hospital for treatment.

CHILDLINE filed an FIR on the same day at the Bankura Sadar Police Station. The case has also been registered with the Human Rights Commission and they are counselling the child. The accused are currently out on bail. Radha is extremely scarred and worried whether she will be able to appear for her upcoming board exams. Currently, she is living with her father in Kolkata. She will be going to school only to appear for her board exams.

There are many children like Radha who are suffering in isolation. Their self-esteem is being destroyed every day and they don’t know whom or how to ask for help. You can help such children get justice. All you have to do is pay attention to the signs, listen to what children have to say, then pick up the phone and dial 1098….

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