Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, June 1 (EMN): The deputy commissioner of Mokokchung, Sachin Jaiswal, on June 1 launched a Childline 1098 in Mokokchung.
The Childline 1098 is a national 24-hour free emergency telephone helpline and outreach service for children in need of care and protection under Union Ministry of Women & Child Development.
This is the third Childline launched in the state after Dimapur and Kohima in collaboration with Care & Support Society (C&SS) here in Mokokchung at Ongpangkong Salang.
Speaking at the launch programme, DC said ‘in our society there is always a dark reality when we go deeper.’ He said it is not always what we see about children in the society for many children are being abused mentally, physically or emotionally and is often unnoticed.
DC lamented that in Nagaland and particularly in Mokokchung, many families send their domestic helpers to school just to prove to the society that they are taken care of but in many cases these children are being forced to work for 8-10 hours a day and missed many classes.
Stating that it is the duty of every citizen to take care and protect children who are in need of help, he urged the stakeholders to be vocal on such issues, if it is occurring at their relative hands or in their vicinity to promptly call Childline for immediate services.
The DC also reminded the nodal officials and stakeholders that the initial stage of the programme will be challenging and crucial for the district to propagate and disseminate awareness in the society.
He further suggested them to initiate concrete action plan and strategies to streamline Childline in the district.
The nodal director of Childline Nagaland and Governing Board Member Childline India Foundation, Subonenba Longkumer, highlighted about Childline 1098.
He said Childline, in general, is a National 24-hour toll-free emergency phone number to provide outreach service for the children in need of care and protection rehabilitation.
The service includes street children, child addiction, abuse of children, mentally ill children, child labourers, children in conflict, children affected by disasters, HIV/AIDS infected children, differently-abled children etc.
He informed that since April 2017- March 2018, Childline Nagaland has intervened around 1500 cases on medical, shelter, restoration, protection from abuse, children in conflict with the law, sponsorship, missing child, parents asking help, emotional support & guidance etc.
Citing that there are many children who could not share their suffering, he urged the stakeholders and nodal agency to proactively respond to such chronic issues.
