CHILDLINE

ChildLine

DEFINITION

Childline is a free 24 hour counseling service for children and young people up to their 19 years. Childline deals with any issue which causes distress or concern, common issues dealt with include child abuse, bullying, parental separation or divorce, pregnancy and substance misuse. Childline's intention is to always keep calls confidential.

History

In 1986 Esther Rantzen, presenter of That's Life!, a popular consumer TV show, suggested to the BBC that they create "Childwatch", a programme about child abuse, the aim being to try to detect children at risk before their lives were in danger. Viewers were asked if they would take part in the survey in an edition of that’s Life. A helpline was opened after the programme.  So that any child currently suffering abuse could call for help. Rantzen, together with her BBC producers Sarah Caplin and Ritchie Cogan, therefore suggested they should create a helpline specifically for children in danger or distress, to be open throughout the year, 24/7, and launch it on the programme.

INTRODUCTION

Childline is a national emergency toll free phone outreach service for the children in need of care and protection operates on the 1098 number, and is supported by the Ministry of Women and Child development (WMCD), Government of India and works in partnership with state governments, NGOs, Bilateral/Multilateral Agencies and Corporate Sector. CHILDLINE 1098 service is cited by the Government of India as India’s response to commitments under the Child Rights Convention of the United Nations to which India is a signatory. ChildLine counsellors only take action if the situation is very serious or life threatening. Counsellors do not record calls but write down case notes of calls and sometimes counselling supervisors may also listen in to calls to make sure that they can help the best they can. At present CHILDLINE is operational in 82 cities/districts in India. Under the XIth Plan CHILDLINE India Foundation has been mandated to extend the CHILDLINE service in all districts of the country as part of the Integrated Child Protection scheme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

In Kerala CHILDLINE is functional in 9 cities / districts, of which Trivandrum, Kochi, Thrissur, Calicut, Wayanad are supported by Government of India, and Kannur, Kasaragod, Malappuram and Palghat are supported by Government of Kerala. The Government of Kerala has started supporting CHILDLINE service in Malappuram, Kasaragod, Palghat and Kannur in 2007-08 for which funds have been routed through CHILDLINE India Foundation. The service focuses on the needs of children living alone on the streets, child labourers, domestic workers, run away children, Children of sex workers and sexually abused children. CHILDLINE is a platform bringing together the Ministry for Women & Child Development, Government of India, Department of Telecommunications, street and community youth, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, the corporate sector and concerned individuals.  CHILDLINE works for the protection of the rights of all children in general.

The basic objectives of the CHILDLINE Service are as follows:-

1. To respond to children in emergency situations and refer them to relevant Governmental and Non- Governmental Organisations and link them to long term rehabilitation.
2. To create a structure which ensures the protection of the rights of the child as ratified in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.
3. To provide a platform for networking amongst organizations and to strengthen the support systems which facilitate the rehabilitation for children in especially difficult circumstances.
4. To sensitize agencies such as the public, hospitals, municipal corporations and the railways towards the problems faced by these children.
5. To provide an opportunity to public to respond to the needs of children in difficult circumstances.

STATISTICS

In 12 years, CHILDLINE has received 17 million calls as of Dec. 2009 from children in need of care and protection from across the country. CHILDLINE has responded to a total of 15194271 Calls from inception till December 2008. These calls have been for medical assistance, shelter, repatriation, missing children, protection from abuse, emotional support and guidance, information and referral to services, death related calls etc.

ChildLine (1098) Services in Kerala

Trivandrum

Nodal Organization: Loyola Extension Services, Loyola College, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram – 17, Ph : 0471-2595097

Collab Organization: Don Bosco Nivas, Thampanur, Thiruvananthapuram – 14, Ph : 1098

Support Organization: Trivandrum Social Service Society (TSSS), Bishop House Compound
P.B. No. 828, Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Ph : 0471-2727123

Kochi

Nodal Organisation: Rajagiri College of Social Sciences , Rajagiri P.O, Kalamassery, Kochi – 683 104, Ph : 0484-2532099 / 2555564

Collab Organization: Don Bosco Snehabhavan Annexe, Kammattipadam
Near KSRTC Bus Stand, Kochi – 682 035, Ph : 1098, 0484-2231009

Thrissur

Nodal Organization Vimala College, Thrissur – 680 648, Ph : 0487-2330351,2332080

Collab Organization St. Christeena Home, Pullazhy, Thrissur – 680 012, Ph : 1098

Kozhikkode

Nodal Organization  Farook College, Farook College P.O, P.B. No. 59, Kozhikode – 673 632
Ph : 0495-2440766

Collab Organization: Association for the Welfare of the Handicapped, Mujahid Square Complex, Pavuamam Road, Kozhikode – 673 001

Wayanad

Nodal Organization Hilda Trust, P.B. No. 9, Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad – 673 592
Ph : 04936-2221652, 2220052

CHILDLINE TODAY

The Government of India has presented CHILDLINE as its response to the Child Rights Convention. We pride ourselves at being a one point window, connecting children in need to various NGO's working for child related issues. CHILDLINE works towards ensuring that all children in need of care and protection are aware of and have access to services, that are child friendly, available when they want it and encourage them to participate in decisions that affect them .The country's first toll-free tele-helpline for street children has grown into a national child protection service that operates in over 83 cities and towns in India.

AREAS

• The CHILDLINE team receives & responds to the calls
• On phone: Emotional support and guidance
• Long-term rehabilitation
• Street children and youth living alone on the streets
• Child labourers working in the unorganized and organized sectors
• Domestic help, especially girl domestics
• Children affected by physical / sexual / emotional abuse in family, schools or institutions.
• Children of commercial sex workers
• Child victims of the flesh trade
• Victims of child trafficking
• Children abandoned by parents or guardians
• Missing children and Run away children
• Children who are victims of substance abuse
• Children in conflict with the law
• Children in institutions
• Mentally challenged and  Differently - abled children  
• HIV/ AIDS infected children
• Children affected by conflict and disaster
• Child political refugees
• Children whose families are in crises

CONCLUSION

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, has appointed CHILDLINE India Foundation (CIF) as the nodal agency for initiating and sustaining CHILDLINE's across the nation. This is a project supported by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development and linking state Governments, NGOs, bilateral /multilateral agencies and corporate sector. CIF is responsible for the establishment of CHILDLINE centers across the country. CIF also functions as a national centre for awareness, advocacy and training on issues related to child protection. We have to collaborate through integrated efforts between children, the state, civil society, corporate and community to build a child friendly social order.

 Mahesh Palloor