PANAJI
The blood-curdling Mapusa and Canacona cases of 4-year-old girls sexually assaulted has brought in focus the role of Goa’s Child Helpline, now operated by the Department of Women and Child Development from Apna Ghar in Merces.
While the helpline is often the first point of contact in cases involving children, experts say that its effectiveness depends on what’s done after a call is made.
Former Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights head Peter Borges said the helpline is only a part of a much larger child protection system.
“Childline cannot function alone and in isolation. Getting the call is the start. What’s done there on is the real measure of the response action,” he said, adding that coordination between Child Welfare Committees, District Child Protection Units, hospitals, police and counselling services is crucial.
Awareness about the helpline is poor because while adults may know the number 1098, most children are unaware that they can seek help directly.
One lawyer who’s dealt with trials of cases and is a Child Rights advocate said, information of the helpline should be visible in schools, playgrounds, coaching centres, parks, gardens and other spaces frequented by children.
Another area requiring attention is access for children living in residential institutions, hostels and boarding facilities.
“Children must be able to contact the helpline safely and privately, particularly when their concerns involve the institution or caregivers themselves,” the lawyer said.
Meanwhile, an official involved with the helpline work said protecting children
is also the responsibility of people who come across children begging, working in unsafe conditions or facing neglect.
“It can play an important role, the reporting of such concerns rather than expressing outrage after incidents like the ones in Mapusa and Canacona happen,” the official said.
In the end, the Child Helpline’s effectiveness will be measured by whether the child was reached in time, provided help, counselled, provided protection and long-term support rather than the number of calls it gets.
In the case of these two child victims, at least, Goa’s ‘1098’ itself appears to be in dire need of dollops of help.
