The Indian Government integrates Child Helpline with ERSS-112, ensuring functional, responsible, and responsive child protection administration under the ‘One Nation One Helpline’ initiative.
DESK – In a significant move, the Indian Government has decided to integrate Child Helpline with ERSS-112 as part of its broader vision of ‘One Nation One Helpline’.
This strategic decision was prioritized during the 2nd National Chief Secretaries’ Conference and announced on June 20, 2023.
The integration is intended to ensure that the responsibility of administration towards children is not just taken over, but also made functional through a responsible and responsive administration.
Child Protection Services Redefined
Under the erstwhile Child Protection Services (CPS) Scheme, the Childline 1098 service was supported by Childline India Foundation (CIF) and its partner NGOs. The CIF network had a response time of about 60 minutes to children’s distress calls. However, the system lacked interoperability with other services like Police, Fire, and Ambulance, leading to a delay in crisis situations.
With this integration, the Child Helpline system run in collaboration with the States and UTs is expected to strengthen Service Delivery structures under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act of 2015, as amended in 2021.
Technological Integration for Swift Action
Technical integration with ERSS-112 is expected to ensure seamless flow of information. This will aid in the repatriation and restoration of children in vulnerable situations within the district, state, and across the States and UTs effectively.
Transition of Child Helpline is in progress, with the system being made operational by taking over Childline in 9 States/UTs in a phase-wise manner. The first phase of 9 States/UTs, which includes Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu, Gujarat, Goa, Ladakh, Mizoram, and Puducherry, will be completed by June 30, 2023.
Child Helpline Reforms – What to Expect
As a part of the transition, Child Helpline will be run in coordination with State and District functionaries, including Police, Counselors, Case Workers and will be integrated with the Emergency Response Support System 112 (ERSS-112) helpline of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kerala has been entrusted as a Total Solution Provider (TSP) for automation of Child Helpline-1098 and its integration with ERSS-112. Calls to 1098 will be classified into three categories – Emergency calls, Non-Emergency calls, and Information calls. Emergency calls can be forwarded from 1098 to 112 or vice versa at the switch of a button.
