9 states, UTs to start merged child helpline by month-end

The Ministry of Women and Child Development had earlier announced the merging of the child helpline (1098) run so far by Childline, with the women’s helpline and Emergency Response Support System (112), under its “One Nation, One Helpline’’ policy.

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By the end of this month Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Puducherry, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Mizoram, Gujarat and Bihar will operationalise the merged child helpline for the first time in the country.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development had earlier announced the merging of the child helpline (1098) run so far by Childline, with the women’s helpline and Emergency Response Support System (112), under its “One Nation, One Helpline’’ policy.

Ministry sources on Tuesday said that the nine states and UTs are just the first phase of the programme and that 12 others will be operational by the end of next month.

Officials said that the Centre targets the operation of this universal helpline across the country by the end of the year.

Childline Services is defined in Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 under section 2(25) as a twenty-four-hour emergency outreach service for children in crisis which links them to emergency or long-term care and rehabilitation service. In 1996, Childline India Foundation launched Childline, the country’s first toll-free tele-helpline number, to help street children in distress.

The service can be accessed by any child in crisis or an adult on their behalf by dialling a four digit toll free number (1098).

Childline would operate through 1,500 NGOs across the country.The WCD Ministry, under the erstwhile Child Protection Services (CPS) Scheme, was supporting this 24×7 service through Childline India Foundation (CIF) and its partner NGOs.

Childline India Foundation (CIF) was the ‘mother NGO’ managing this service. The CIF was running the service in 568 districts, 135 railway stations and 11 bus stands.

Ministry sources pointed out that the system had become ineffective in recent years. The CIF’s average response time to a distress call was about 60 minutes even in situations that require immediate rescue, they said.