NATIONAL GIRL CHILD DAY

 

In the year 2008, the Ministry of Women and Child Development observed the first National Girl Child Day on 24^th January with an aim to highlight inequalities and gender discrimination issues faced by a girl child at various milestones in her life. Through this initiative, the Ministry endeavours to spread awareness about the rights of girl children, including the right to education, nutrition and health.

 The theme of the National Girl Child Day 2021 is to raise awareness about the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR). Across the country, several events were organised to commemorate this day. The  government also put emphasis on Beti Bachao Beti Badhao Scheme and several other schemes focusing on girl child empowerment on the national girl child day.

CHILDLINE 1098, India’s one and only emergency, 24-hour, toll-free helpline for children in distress has left no stone unturned to celebrate this day. Despite the pandemic, all the CHILDLINE partners across the country organised several events with all the COVID-19 protective and social distancing measures.

CHILDLINE plays an important role in the district level task force constituted for Beti Bachao Beti Badhao Scheme to advocate and create awareness among the community people. The teams represent at the district level during the meetings organised for Beti Bachao Beti Badhao scheme.

On the occasion of the girl child day, CHILDLINE Faridabad, Haryana organised an event and a meeting for children in Mirzapur slums. The children danced, created artworks including rangoli to celebrate the occasion. The CHILDLINE team motivated the children and distributed several prizes among them. In Jammu and Kashmir, CHILDLINE Anantnag organised a mass awareness event on the occasion where at least 45 girls along with the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) workers, local village committee members participated. The CHILDLINE team spread awareness about the services of CHILDLINE 1098 and the importance of a girl child and issues faced by them. CHILDLINE Bundi, Rajasthan celebrated national girl child day with children from shelter homes and slum areas and conducted a meeting with police officers on child rights and child issues.

Across 25 districts of Telangana, CHILDLINE celebrated national girl child’s day on 24^th, 25^th and 26^th January 2021 through different activities and events. A total of 351 officials and stakeholders from allied departments including ICDS and Panchayat Raj along with 1326 children and 602 adults participated. CHILDLINE Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh organised a National Girl Child Day programme at a shelter home in a village. Through this programme, the team discussed the CHILDLINE 1098 services, the importance of girl child education and the disadvantages of child marriage.

In Maharashtra, CHILDLINE Dhule celebrated the national girl child day in a special abled girl’s shelter home. The chief guests of the programme guided the girls about the objectives and the importance of the girl’s rights and education. In Kolhapur, CHILDLINE celebrated the girl child day in Ingavale Mala, Kuchkovari with 36 children.

In West Bengal, almost all the districts celebrated the national girl child day with great pomp and splendour. CHILDLINE Alipurduar distributed winter clothes among the children. An open house programme was organised by CHILDLINE Darjeeling at a school in Kurseong. Railway CHILDLINE Asansol also conducted an open house programme with the nearby local children. In the CHILDLINE advisory board meeting of 2020-21 in Bishnupur, West Bengal, Beti Bacchao Beti Padhao campaign was flagged off, link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXc0SAPcl4k

 

CHILDLINE RESCUES A CHILD BEGGAR FROM THE STREETS

A local news channel telecasted a story of a 10-year-old girl Nayna (name changed to protect identity) from the location where she was begging. Upon receiving the news, CHILDLINE Guwahati, Assam contacted the reporter of the news channel for more details.  Next day, along with the reporter and Dispur Traffic Police Outpost officials went to the house of the girl for further enquiry.

Nayna was the student of 5^th Standard. Her mother worked as a domestic help in different households to meet their daily expenses.  However, the mother met with an accident and fractured her hand. Hence, she was unable to go to work. The lockdown had further worsened their situation as there was insufficient food at home. Therefore, the child started begging on the streets.

The officials from the Dispur Traffic out Post provided emergency relief to the family. CHILDLINE team ensured that her case will be looked into and she and her mother will be assisted with all the possible facilities. Meanwhile, CHILDLINE is trying to link Nayna with the sponsorship scheme under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).

Child begging is the worst violation of child rights and absolutely against a child’s dignity. Therefore, all the state and civil authorities as well as the civil society to unite and end this menace forever.

If you come across any child begging on the streets, please do not hesitate to call CHILDLINE 1098 and report a case. 

VICTIMS OF CHILD LABOUR RESCUED AND REHABILITATED

 

CHILDLINE Faridabad, Haryana received information about children who were working as child labourers at a chicken and egg shop. However, on reaching the location, the team did not find any children. Upon following up with the caller, the team learnt that the children came to work only in the night. The caller also shared photographic evidence. When CHILDLINE visited again, the team found three children aged 14 to 17 years working at the shop.

During the counselling session, CHILDLINE learnt that the children were school dropouts. An FIR was registered against their employer under the JJ Act and then they were presented before the CWC (Child Welfare Committee). The CWC ordered that they undergo a medical test and be given temporary shelter at Karm Marg. The next day, the children were handed over to their parents, who were also counselled.

Children engaged in child labour are deprived of dignity and childhood. Such children are unable to go to school often remain illiterate for the rest of their lives. Child labour is harmful to their overall development and mental health.

Therefore, if you come across a child engaged in child labour please do not hesitate to call CHILDLINE 1098.

CHILDLINE JOINS A COVERT OPERATION TO RESCUE A 14-YEAR OLD FROM THE TRAFFICKERS

 

Thane CHILDLINE, Maharashtra received a call from Mission Mukti for assistance to rescue a 14 year-old girl confined at a warehouse in Thane district. CHILDLINE shared all the documents received from Mission Mukti with CWC (Child Welfare Committee), DCPU (District Child Protection Unit) and Sr. Police Inspector of the local police station.  The same evening, NCPCR (National Commission for Protection of Child Rights) contacted CHILDLINE and confirmed the case of trafficking and sought assistance in the joint rescue operation conducted by the NCPCR and Mission Mukti. The NCPCR also shared the case details with CWC and DWCD (Department of Women and Child Development).  CHILDLINE was requested to coordinate with the CWC. 

The joint team of CHILDLINE, Mission Mukti and DCPO met the Sr. police Inspector at the police station to draw up a rescue plan. One senior officer and three Women Police Constables were assigned to join the rescue operation team. The team split into two groups and approached the location of the girl. After combing the area, the girl was found near the gate and taken into custody. The trafficker’s father who was also taken into custody summoned his son on to come to the Labour Camp on the phone. All of them were taken to the police station. 

The girl's statement was recorded at the police station. She revealed that the trafficker had brought her from West Bengal and married her. The CWC was informed about the girl’s rescue over the phone and as per their directions, she was admitted to the Amche Ghar, Shelter Home for girls. Then, the girl was presented before the CWC and is presently staying at the Shelter Home. The accused has been handed over to the West Bengal Police for further action.  The case is still going on.   

Child trafficking is one of the worst forms of modern-day slavery and child abuse. Each year, thousands of children are tricked, persuaded or forced to leave their homes and put their lives at risk in the worst and unimaginable ways. The victims are kept in inhuman conditions and forced into heinous and criminal activities.   

As a society, we need to come together to end this menace and safeguard the future of our children. Please call CHILDLINE 1098, if you come across a case of child trafficking.

CHILDLINE AND CYBER POLICE WORK TOGETHER ON OPERATION P-HUNT

 

A 26-year-old man was caught by the Cyber Police as part of Operation P-Hunt, a covert operation to nab people involved in child pornography. Many photos of children were recovered from his phone, and it also came to light that he was sexually abusing his niece, a young girl of 9 years. The police approached CHILDLINE Trivandrum, Kerala and requested support in counselling the child, as she was scared to talk to the police.

Upon counselling the child, CHILDLINE learnt that her uncle used to harass her when her mother and sister were not at home. He would also accompany her on the pretext of visiting the dentist and abuse her. He also went on to blackmail the child, stating that he would get caught by the police if she revealed what was happening. CHILDLINE also provided emotional support and guidance to the child and prepared her for the case proceedings.

The police also expressed their gratitude to the CHILDLINE team for their child-friendly approach and professionalism. Child pornography is one of the major detrimental side-effects of the development of digital technology. It has become a serious problem worldwide. Kerala police launched a covert surveillance operation P-hunt to curb this menace. Under this initiative, the police have arrested people involved in sharing and posting of child pornography.

Currently, Kerala police are monitoring the digital viewing and sharing of pornographic material round the clock and have reported an alarming rise of this heinous activity.

ONE MORE FAMILY RESCUED FROM THE BRINK OF STARVATION

In an attempt to control the spread of the Coronavirus, the Government of India has announced a complete lockdown. While this precautionary measure is helping to control the spread of this contagious virus, it has led to the rise of major crises for daily wage earners and migrant workers.

They are the worst sufferers of the side effects of the lockdown. They usually live hand-to-mouth and without their daily earnings, they can barely provide for their family. Currently, most of the daily wage earners and migrant workers are out of jobs. It has become extremely difficult for them to feed their family.

CHILDLINE 1098 received a call from a helpless father whose three children have been starving for 3 days. Hailing from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Prashant Sinha (name changed to protect identity) came to Vapi, Gujarat nine years ago to work in a tailoring company. Five months ago, he brought his 3 children, Samir age 11 years, Akash age 6 years and Vikram 4 years old (names changed to protect identity) to his residence in Vapi-Valsad.

During the initial days, of the COVID -19 outbreak, the factory owner gave the father some money and necessities. But soon they ran out of resources and the money. The CHILDLINE team member working on this case coordinated with the district administration authorities to arrange for ration and food items for the family.

Within no time, the DSP of Valsad sent his team with all the ration and food items to the family. Upon receiving groceries from the police, the father immediately informed CHILDLINE and thanked for co-coordinating and arranging for food. 

In these challenging times, CHILDLINE is receiving thousands of calls from children and parents who need help to buy ration and food items. You too can join hands with CHILDLINE 1098 and help us fulfil their needs.

WHEN GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING

Thousands of children go missing each year. Children go missing due to a number of possible reasons such as abduction or kidnapping, trafficking, lost children, running away from home due to conflict with family or living in a difficult and aggressive environment.

Large numbers of missing children end up on the streets in acute poverty. Many are forced to engage in unlawful activities. They are extremely vulnerable and easily exploited. In the year 2018-2019, CHILDLINE received approximately 32,000 cases of missing and runaway children each.

CHILDLINE 1098 is 24X7, emergency, toll-free helpline for children who are in distress. The CHILDLINE ground level rescue teams ensure that every child is safe and secure even in tough situations.

CHILDLINE 1098 has safely restored a missing child with his parents during the lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. One day before the lockdown began; CHILDLINE 1098 received a call reporting a missing child who was unable to speak and was at Delhi Gate, Ghaziabad, UP. The team members immediately rushed to the location and found the child, Rohan (name changed to protect identity), 17, alone.

Since the child was unable to communicate, CHILDLINE took the child to the Ghaziabad police station. Even the police could not get any information from him. As per the protocol, the child was produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Though the child was supposed to be sent to the shelter home in Bijnor, UP, the chairperson decided that the boy should be quarantined at a hospital as a preventive measure due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the boy did not show any symptoms, the doctor at the MMG hospital in Ghaziabad was not keen to quarantine the child. However, post continuous persuasion from CHILDLINE, the boy was quarantined at the hospital. While the child was in quarantine, the CHILDLINE team member remained with the child and managed to get the contact details of the child’s family and inform them. The child’s family managed to reach Ghaziabad, despite the limited transport facility. After the due diligence process was completed, Rohan was reunited with his family.

TURN THIS LOCK DOWN TIME INTO FAMILY BONDING TIME

Online conference calls, working lunches, presentations from the living room has become a daily norm for working parents during the lockdown. While parents are constantly juggling between office work and household work, children are struggling to keep themselves engaged in confinement at home. The complete lockdown has drastically changed their schedules, curbed their play-time with their friends and restricted their movements. Parents can create some memorable moments for their children by turning the lockdown time into family bonding time. Engaging with children in activities like,

Cooking together

Look through recipe books and websites with your children and take their opinion to select the right one. Give them age-appropriate tasks like measuring the ingredients, turning off the stove, etc. Keep tasting food together. Cooking together is a great way of bonding and developing a new skill.

Family game-time

Playing board games, cards, solving a puzzle together or setting up a treasure hunt is a perfect way to spend some quality time with children. It will keep your kids occupied for a few hours and help you unwind after a hard day’s work.

Storytelling session

Switching off from the digital world and telling a story or reading a book to your child is one of the best ways to keep your child engaged. It will help in inculcating the habit of reading in your children. You can make the storytelling session fun and entertaining by reading out loud, emoting words, enacting a few scenes from the book etc.

Nurture a hobby

Let your children explore their creative side with drawing, painting, singing together and dancing. You can also engage your child in making creative and useful items out of old newspapers or things that are no longer in use. This is the best way to bring out your child’s hidden talents.

Children tend to miss their friends the most during the lockdown. Therefore, allowing children to video call their friends once in a while will keep them happy and engaged. For more ideas to keep children occupied in lockdown visit, https://www.childlineindia.org/a/covid19. We have links to regional language content as well.

*As a parent, please monitor your child’s online presence and follow cyber safety rules for children.

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.

.

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. 

A CASE OF A 9-YEAR OLD BOY WHO RAN AWAY NOT ONCE BUT TWICE

Kids running away or going missing is every parents’ worst nightmare. Imagine, you wake up one morning to find your kid is missing from home or your kid goes out to play and does not return home. Isn’t it scary? What pushes a child to run away from home?

The children run away mainly because of family or guardian abuse, neglect, conflict with the law, city attraction, stress, etc. Following is a true-life case of a boy who ran away from his home not once but twice and was rescued by CHILDLINE. He is now in safe hands.

In December 2019, Child Help Desk at Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) received a case of a 9-year-old child, Ram (name changed) who had run away from his home. The boy was a resident of Kalyan in Mumbai suburbs. He appeared very calm and composed in CHILDLINE’s custody. Apparently, he was a repeat offender.

A couple of years ago, he ran away from his home due to major differences with his brother. He stated his brother would beat him up regularly. Back then, he wanted to go to the shelter home. However, as per the orders of the CWC, he was reunited with his parents and was sent home.

This time too, he ran away citing the same problem and was adamant to not want to go back to his family. He requested to be put up at the shelter home. CHILDLINE informed his parents and they arrived to meet him. The boy was then produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). This time, however, his wish has been granted to reside at the shelter home. Currently, he and his parents are undergoing regular counselling at the shelter home.

In the year 2018-2019, CHILDLINE received about 31779 runaway cases amongst others. Of these 17811 i.e. 56 per cent were city attraction cases. About 5751 i.e. 18 per cent were runaway cases related to employment and 8217 cases i.e. 26 per cent were other cases like neglect, abuse, stress, 

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

Kid Glove 2019: An initiative to protect children from cybercrimes

Technology is all-pervasive across age groups today. Given the many dangers that lurk online, children are especially vulnerable to becoming victims of cybercrime. In an effort to create awareness on cybersecurity and sensitise children, parents and teachers, the Kerala Police Cyberdome organised “Kid Glove 2019” in association with CHILDLINE, Bodhini and Allianz Technology. Launched in 2015, Kid Glove is an initiative by Cyberdome, the technological research and development centre of the Kerala State Police, to create awareness and build capacity to counter and tackle the threats of cyberspace.

Dignitaries at the event. Pic: Cyberdome

The event was held at Nirmala Bhavan School, Trivandrum on October 11th 2019, and saw enthusiastic participation from over 450 students from across 35 schools. It was inaugurated by Loknath Behara IPS - DGP, State Police Chief, in the presence of Manoj Abraham IPS  - ADGP HQ, Nodal Officer Cyberdome, Jeevan Babu K IAS - Director of General Education, Dr.Achuth Sankar S Nair - HOD Dept of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Kerala University, Dr. Sr. Mercy Kunnathulurayidam - Principal Nirmala Bhavan and Raji Gouda - Allianz Technology.

Kid Glove 2019 sought to equip students with the knowledge to traverse the World Wide Web effectively while ensuring that they were taking the necessary steps to safeguard themselves. The event included an exhibition, and workshops and awareness sessions on themes such as protecting online privacy, responding to online bullies, basic cybersecurity measures that could be taken and more. A life-size version of Snakes and Ladders took the children through the dos and don'ts of using the web; the longest snake on the board, for instance, denoted the risk they were taking when they posted pictures online.

As part of the awareness sessions, the CHILDLINE team organised a talk on the topic, “Atrocities against Children and CHILDLINE’s Role in Helping Victims”, which was attended by 300 students.

A CHILDLINE counsellor talks to the children about sexual abuse. Pic: Cyberdome

A kiosk which had posters with information on the 1098 services was set up in the exhibition area. Awareness videos were also streamed from the kiosk for the entire duration of the programme. Every child who visited was also handed a brochure with details on how, when and why they could call CHILDLINE.

Children at the CHILDLINE kiosk. Pic: CHILDLINE Trivandrum

To showcase what happened a 1098 call was made, children could also call the helpline from a phone that was installed at the kiosk. 

Children dial the 1098 helpline. Pic: CHILDLINE Trivandrum

Considering the dependence on technology in today’s world, it is very critical to equip children with the knowledge they need to protect themselves from the various transgressions they can encounter. An initiative like Kid Glove can go a long way in informing children and building their capacity in effectively mitigating and countering threats or risks they could face online.