Helpline to help lost kids

A child helpline centre in Jaipur is gaining popularity for providing support to destitute children.

A child helpline centre here is gaining popularity for providing support to destitute children.

The centre was set up with the assistance of the union women and child development ministry to assist impoverished children who either ran away from their homes or came to the city from neighbouring states.

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"People inform us about injured street children. Many times parents call us about such children because they do not have enough money to provide them proper treatment. In 2006 we had as many as 8,104 injured children. Of this, 528 calls were from parents who wanted to locate lost children," says Umesh Sharma of I-India.

Many of the children were later handed over to their parents.

Jayantu, a 12-year-old who ran away from his home in West Bengal, had to work 18 hours a day in a restaurant here. He was freed by the helpline team and restored to his parents. The helpline was set up 15 years ago. It also gives children free counselling and addresses their emotional needs.