Dimapur, June 17 (MExN): Childline India Foundation (CIF) is all set to make its presence felt in Nagaland. The foundation is a non-profit organisation that is spearheading the fight against child abuse in the country.
Taking into consideration the number of ‘invisible child labours’ in the state, many a households irrespective of status will have a lot of explaining to do, if the foundation is able to spread its reach in the state. The CIF, for the information of all, has already introduced a toll free child helpline in some states of the country – CHILDLINE 1098 – which is a 24-hour free phone service for children in need of care and protection. And in their endeavour, the foundation has the backing of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment that has appointed CIF as the nodal agency for initiating and sustaining child helplines across the nation.
“CHILDLINE will reach out to every child in need and ensure their rights and protection”. “CIF is responsible for the establishment of CHILDLINE centres across the country. CIF also functions as a national centre for awareness, advocacy and training on issues related to child protection”.
In this endeavour a consultation meeting of NGO’s, state government officials and a CIF representative from Kolkata was held at the DC’s conference hall, Dimapur on Thursday, June 17. It was attended by the ADC, Sedevikho Khro, programme coordinator of CIF Kolkata, Avik Mitra, project director of CECS, Sobunenba Longkumer and representatives from local NGO’s active in the field of child rights advocacy.
SDPO, Niuland, Tokavi who is in-charge of Women Cell, Dimapur along with women police and RPF personnel were also in attendance.
The meet, besides enlightening the members present, discussed the ground works necessary for the implementation of the Childline project in Nagaland and in dealing with child labor in Dimapur and finding alternate ways to curb the illegal practice.
Avik Mitra informed that CIF is advocating for introduction of the helpline in the state following the directive from the ministry of social justice & empowerment to introduce it in every district of the country by 2015. To do so CIF, Mitra said, is conducting research with the help of local NGOs. He said that the toll free ‘Childline 1098’ will be implemented in the state by six months time, if all goes well. He further informed that the project would also provide ‘on the spot’ assistance in cases related to children with addictions, child abuse, children in conflict with law etc.
Any child who feels he/she is being abused can take the assistance of the toll free number to which CIF volunteers will respond immediately.
Sobunenba Longkumer, project director CECS is actively advocating for the implementation of the project in the state. Longkumer, who was orphaned as a child said that they are conducting ground works and research to first comprehend the reality in the state. In their research he said that they have come across many children, who are mostly employed as domestic helps, expressing resentment against the way they are treated by their employers. The research is still ongoing.
ADC Dimapur Sedeviko Khro, terming the project as “something completely new” for the state, said that the police, NGOs and the concerned government departments see to it that it functions and is used for the advantage of the children who are not so fortunate.
“CIF undertakes replication of CHILDLINE, networking and facilitation, training, research and documentation, and Communications and Strategic Initiatives both at the national and international level”.
