As part of the broader vision of One Nation One Helpline, and as prioritised during the 2nd National Chief Secretaries’ Conference, the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has taken a decision of integration of Women Helpline, Child Helpline (1098) with ERSS-112 (Emergency Response Support System).
Key points
- The technical integration with the ERSS-112 is expected to usher in seamless flow of information which will aid repatriation and restoration of children in vulnerable situations within the district, state and across the States and UTs effectively.
- Childline Services is defined in Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act, 2015 under section 2(25) as a twenty-four hours emergency outreach service for children in crisis which links them to emergency or long-term care and rehabilitation service.
- The service can be accessed by any child in crisis or an adult on their behalf by dialing a four digit toll free number (1098).
- Ministry has issued guidelines of Mission Vatsalya Scheme subsuming erstwhile Child Protection Services (CPS) Scheme according to which the Child Helpline will be run in coordination with State and District functionaries including Police, Counselors, Case Workers and integrated with the Emergency Response Support System 112 (ERSS-112) helpline of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
- Ministry has entrusted the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kerala as a Total Solution Provider (TSP) for automation of Child Helpline-1098 and its integration with ERSS-112.
- The incoming calls to 1098 will be classified into three categories – Emergency calls, Non-Emergency calls and Information calls. All Emergency calls can be forwarded from 1098 to 112 or vice versa on the switch of a button.
