Childline has worked for suffering children – government doesn’t need to take over

Source– The post is based on the article “Childline has worked for suffering children – government doesn’t need to take over” published in “The Indian Express” on 18th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Vulnerable sections of the population

Relevance: Issues related to children

News- The Centre has decided to take over the child helpline service operated by NGOs since its inception in 1998.

How has the government ‘s approach towards protection of vulnerable people changed over time?

The prevailing viewpoint was that the care and protection of the vulnerable was not primarily a law-and-order issue.

However, there was more emphasis on law enforcement. It ignored the fact that crime is the result of dysfunctional society, and interaction between the individual and his environment.

The report of the All-India Committee (1980-83) on Jail Reforms had nudged the government to evolve a correctional strategy. It led to the creation of a Ministry of Welfare, which was later renamed Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The committee recommended a holistic approach to protecting against crime and rehabilitating offenders through institutional and non-institutional services. Such an approach involved the participation of both the state and the civil society.

The Juvenile Justice Act 1986 superseded the various state Children’s Acts of 1956.

The “chota jails” for destitute children converted into state-run children’s homes under the new Act. Subsequent amendments allowed NGOs to set up homes for children under the close watch of the state.

Why Centre’s decision to take over the child helpline service operated by NGOs is not a step in the right direction?

The Childline Foundation was constituted with members drawn from civil society, academia and the corporate world. It was assigned the toll-free national child helpline number 1098 by Department of Telecommunications

The NGOs working with street children have the responsibility to operate the helpline. Surveys indicated that children were reluctant to contact a helpline manned by government employees, especially the police.

Their peers were better positioned to receive these phone calls, comprehend the seriousness of the issue, and determine the exact location of the distressed child.

Over a span of 25 years, Childline emerged as the crucial support system for vulnerable children. It helps orphans, destitute individuals, runaway youths, and lost children.

When the police encounter an unattended child, they turn to Childline as their initial point of contact. Additionally, the district administration relies on Childline’s assistance in rescuing child labourers and aiding drug addicts.

Concerned citizens can dial 1098 to report children in need of help.