CHILDLINE PROTECTS AND SUPPORTS A MINOR VICTIM OF ABUSE

On 15^th June 2020, CHILDLINE Rourkela, Odisha, placed a 13-year old girl, Radha (name changed to protect identity) in a shelter home on the orders of Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Radha was rescued from the market place by the Biramitra police station where she was roaming aimlessly. She was kept under the custody of the medical officer at the Biramitrapur Community Health Center (CHC) since she was not feeling well and required medical attention. 

On further counseling, Radha revealed some startling details. She had undergone an abortion the previous night. She also mentioned that earlier the Biramitrapur police station officers had tried to admit her at the CHC. As the counseling session progressed further, CHILDLINE realized that the police along with the doctors had violated the MTP Act (Medical Termination Of Pregnancy Act, 1971). They all had given false information to the CWC.   

The local newspaper covered this case on 21^st June 2020. Next day, CWC recorded the statement of the child. As per orders from the CWC, the local DCPO (District Child Protection Officer) filed an FIR against six people including two police personnel and a medical officer of the CHC in the Biramitrapur area. Subsequently, the officer in-charge was suspended and his statement was recorded on 26^th June 2020. 

After getting all the necessary information, CHILDLINE immediately removed the child from the CHC and restored her with the open shelter. On the orders of the DGP (Director General of Police), the inspector was dismissed from the duty for sexually abusing a 13-year old girl for a period of four months and later forcefully terminating her pregnancy without informing the District Child Welfare Committee. CHILDLINE is providing emotional support, guidance and counseling to help Radha recover from the trauma. 

The DGP shared updates of the case on social media and apologized to the girl on social media.
If you come across any child in distress or trouble, please do not hesitate to call CHILDLINE on 1098.

CHILDLINE MUMBAI B'DAY PARTY

On 15^th Jan’10 we celebrated the Mumbai CHILDLINE Street Children’s Party at BMC Krida Bhavan, Near Shivaji park, Dadar. Street kids from across Mumbai, Thane and Kalyan including our partners’ shelter kids and CHILDLINE team members of Mumbai came together to party hard. There was food, there was drinks, there was music and unlimited masti.

This day is very special for each and every child who comes to the party. As most of them celebrate this day as their birthday since they have no memories of a family or birth year. For them it’s their very own birthday party and they look forward to with much cheer and anticipation. Well, we definitely know that for sure, coz somewhere roughly around the time, the Didis and Bhaiyas start getting calls, asking them ‘Apun ka party kab hoenga?’. 

This was the 13^th CHILDLINE Birthday party and 1000 children came to have a ball of a time. For those who wanted to chill a bit and take a break from dancing to hard to bollywood music there were also these various stalls for games, mehandi, face painting and tattoo.

 Amidst balloons and streamers and other festivities, the kids also came up with some performances of their own (prepared in advance). Volunteers from colleges, organisations helped us in decoration, registration and logistics/work for the day. And if all of this wasn’t enough to get their tummies rumbling, there was yummy treats and drinks and finally the Biryani dinner.

Ms. Sheela Sail, DCP, Enforcement was the chief guest for the event. The other guests were Mr.Bhavaskar, ACP of Special Police Unit and Mr. Dinakar, General Manager, Telecom. 

 Last but not the least a huge congregation of the Child Helpline International, Asia Pacific members, also in town for a conference came to the party and danced away to latest bollywood hits with the kids. 

Shahid Kapoor for CHILDLINE India

Press Conference, 10th January 2010, Le Royal Meridien, Mumbai

Mumbai Marathon 2010

Asia’s largest (and the world’s fourth largest) Marathon for a social cause was held on the 17th January 2010. This Seventh edition of the run, was not only about altitude (the feeling of being high), but also about the attitude. The attitude to ‘do, will do’ coupled with an enormous feeling of empathy, which we found to be true for every Mumbaikar.
CHILDLINE has tied its umbilical telephone line for children in distress with this event. And it has been possible only with the support of the various teams and individuals from various walks of life, who decide to run for our cause, year after year.

This year, was again as crazy as ever with 320 people representing CHILDLINE on the track, who ran, walked and somehow dragged themselves to the finish line.

Of these humanitarians supporting our cause, were 10 corporate teams. Of which Axis Bank, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Sanofi Aventis, Star TV and Tata AIG were the corporate challenge teams whereas Cross Tabs, Deloitte, HDFC, Nickelodeon and Vodafone ran with the CHILDLINE children and the CHILDLINE team.

While our jumping, smiling children were singing ‘dus-nau-aath hai mere saath’ to the finish line and motivating the teams to complete the race, from the Invitee Marquee the Dream Team runners were already rushing past the start line towards the finish. Among them were Mihir Doshi (CEO, Credit Suisse), Sunil Rawlani(VP, HDFC Insurance) , Anup Maheshwari(VP, DSP Blackrock), Monica Tata (VP Marketing, Turner India) and Shobha De(writer, journalist).

The Cartoon characters, Sponge Bob- square pants and Dora- the explorer also were part of the marathon furore and a hit among our children, as well as quite a few adults too. It was also super star Shahid Kapoor, from our Mumbai Bollywood frat who got everyone charged up as he expressed his support to our cause not only at the Marathon, but also the week before it at a Press Conference at La Royal Meridian. He wanted to be a voice that carried a message to the masses ‘Call 1098, whenever you see a child in distress’.

Another hero was Sunil Rawlani who came with a mental set-up of doing only 10 kms having had managed only 10 days training. But the zeal for the cause pushed him to finish the whole 21 Kms of the half marathon distance. And the heroine of the day was definitely, Shobha De who came across as the most spirited runner. She was seen instilling energy into the corporate teams, recharging the dream team runners and flagging off the children at the start line and then running with them, as the CHILDLINE green flapped against the wind.

The excitement which was there peaking for all the four hours down south in Mumbai on that day has faded for the year. The tired feet have rested. But the countdown is still on. DUS… NAU… AATH…It’s a countdown to a better life for the children of our country.

Shahid supports CHILDLINE at the Mumbai Marathon

The clock’s ticking
Fitness echelon.
CHECK.

Mental grit.
CHECK.

Enthusiasm level.
EXCESS
 Mr. Shahid Kapoor is super enthusiastically, supporting CHILDLINE at the Mumbai Marathon’10.


HIS MESSAGE FOR YOU:
 
Dear Friend,
This marathon, I'll be a part of a dream. A dream which envisions a child-friendly nation that guarantees the rights and protection of all children. And CHILDLINE is the making of this dream come-true.

I'll be there on the day of the marathon, flagging of the children, as they race to a brighter future and also talking about what in essence is any Child's Right.

If you have any messages, or questions for me, please feel free to write. We will try to reach out to each and every one of your messages, personally. You can post your message here .

You can also help by creating awareness by Word-of- Mouth or by contributing funds. Cause every rupee you donate shall go towards returning the childhood to one more child.

CHILDLINE's Friend,

And now yours,

Shahid