Keeping children on the ‘right track’

Secunderabad: The Childline Help Desk, which was setup in the year 2015 by the Ministry of Railways in association with the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development at Secunderabad Railway Station has till now rescued around 1,735 children from falling prey to human traffickers. This ingenious initiative is being administered by members of Divya Disha, a non-governmental child welfare organisation.

Unfortunately, despite the awareness drives, people choose to ignore the social issue. If citizens also act responsibly, the future of children could be secured without much difficulty
- Isidore Philips, Director of Divya Disha

The help desk ensures care and protection to the young boys and girls, who are found on platforms of the station after they flee from homes due to family issues or trafficked by child abusers to exploit them commercially. Many a time children who are abandoned by their parents or were lost in the crowd are given relief at the little cabin the desk runs on Platform 1 of the station.

Headed by a co-ordinator who keeps track of the Childline operations, the help desk also includes a counselor, seven team members and three volunteers who work round the clock in order to provide safe environment for children.

Working in close ties with the Government, Railway Police and Railway Protection Force, the help desk has been successful in rescuing children who mostly belonged to the Bihar, Jharkand, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

“The runaway children find it easier to travel by hiding in the general compartments of the train where they can’t be traced by even the railway officials but our helpdesk team and the police keep an eye for them even before the train arrives.

The CCTV footages are closely monitored for suspicious activities. Once a boy or girl is taken into our protection, we counsel him/her, gather details and submit them to the Child Welfare Committee, where they decide whether the child should be sent for rehabilitation or to the homes in Nimboliadda, Saidabad and Ameerpet.

But Divya Disha keeps a follow up of the child until we are sure they are in safe hands,” explains Vijay Kumar, co-ordinator of the help desk.

The help desk also organises awareness drives among sweepers, vendors, porters, shopkeepers, auto and taxi drivers along with police personnel to motivate them in helping the children in need and to teach them how to identify a troubled child.

“Unfortunately despite the awareness drives, people choose to ignore the social issue. If citizens also act responsibly, the future of children could be secured without much difficulty. At the end by protecting our future generation we are safeguarding the future of our country,” expresses Isidore Philips, Director of Divya Disha.

By Maitreyi Tadepalli