HAILAKANDI, April 25 - Hailakandi Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli inaugurated the Childline 1098 service here on Wednesday. The service aims to save and nurture children in distress, and help children suffering from diseases, children who are lost or abandoned or are being exploited.
Jalli suggested that awareness programmes on the Childline project should be organised so that people come to know about it and use the helpline in the time of their need.
Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan�s district youth coordinator Shekhar Ranjan Deb said the toll-free 24x7 service will help curb the social evils of child labour, child marriage and child exploitation.
Deshabandhu Club president Dr Sanjib Dildar and secretary Ajit Roy Choudhury, SK Roy Civil Hospital�s superintendent, labour officer, district child protection officer and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
The project is the brainchild of Geru Balwari, who conceived the idea in 1996 to help children in distress. Later, then MP Maneka Gandhi tabled the Bill of Childline project in Parliament and got it passed.
Today, the project under the Ministry of Women and Child Development has its presence in 473 cities/districts in 35 States/UTs across India through its network of over 887 partner organisations.
In Hailakandi district, the project will be run by its partner organisation Deshabandhu Club of Behera, Cachar.
