Port Blair, Aug. 30: The Child Helpline 1098, under the Directorate of Social Welfare, conducted an awareness programme at Government Girls Senior Secondary School to highlight the critical services provided by Child Helpline 1098. The session was inaugurated by Smt. Beena Das, Helpline Administrator (CHL).

The Child Helpline 1098 is an emergency Toll-free number that operates 24/7. It is a Scheme under Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. The Child Helpline, under the Mission Vatsalya Scheme is integrated with the Emergency Response Support System 112 (ERSS-112).

Dr. Nitin Shakya, Director (Social Welfare), emphasized the significance of such programs in raising awareness among children. He highlighted the importance of providing a dedicated helpline for children in need and addressing issues such as abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The Child Helpline 1098 serves as a vital lifeline for children, and it is essential that they are aware of how to reach out for support.

The resource persons for the event, MS P. Lily from CHL, discussed about the various services under the scheme and also the significance of the helpline. The event concluded with a question and answer session where queries raised by the students were addressed.