After the helpline number 1098, India’s first 24-hour, free and emergency phone service to provide aid and assistance to children working as child labourers in the unorganised and organised sectors, the Labour department has decided to accept complaints related to child labour on Sharamik helpline (12789) as well, the helpline was launched recently to handle complaints from labourers about their wages and other queries.
An official from the Delhi Labour department said, “The department has added another line to the already existing helpline number 12789 as there were complaints that it was difficult to get through to the previous helpline number. This is to address issues of child labour more swiftly.”
In order to make the helpline more successful and organised, district transports are set up in nine areas of the city. These are special offices with task force to handle child labour cases. And once the complaints are reported, the cases will be given to deputy labour commissioner at each district for further action. About the action and penalty, the official further shared, “Besides child labour, the helpline will also look after the cases of child molestation, violence and harassment. After the child is rescued, he is handed over to the Child Welfare Committee for counselling and rehabilitation. The children are also admitted to MCD schools. Soon, we are planning to open vocational training centres for these kids. The penalty for child labour is `20,000.”
Experts from the NGOs feel that these helplines are of great help. Priya Subramanian of NGO Save the Children, says, “People may not wish to call the police to report about someone employing child labour. But the helpline is useful as trained volunteers take the call and follow up on the case without being intrusive.”