Meghalaya: 14 posts created to strengthen child help line service in the state

In an effort to strengthen the child help line service in Meghalaya, the Department of Social Welfare has created 14 posts to reach out to the larger parts of the state, Minister in charge of Social Welfare Paul Lyngdoh informed on Monday.

Lyngdoh told Northeast Live that the child helpline number, 1098 was activated in conformity with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 as a 24-hour emergency outreach service for children in crisis across Meghalaya.

It is a 24-hour a day, 365 days a year, free emergency phone service for children in need of aid and assistance.

Lyngdoh further said that the child helpline service under Mission Vatsalya was activated in 2019 and was run by a single operator. Now with the creation of the 14 positions, the service will be further strengthened as it will have 10 call operators and one IT supervisor besides others.

“These posts will help to make the child helpline service effective. This will include the posts of IT supervisor (1), call operators (10), multi-purpose staffer (1), and security guard (2),” Lyngdoh said.
Apart from the child helpline, Lyngdoh informed that the department had also activated a women’s helpline number – 181.

Futhermore, Lyngdoh said that the department has installed the latest gadgets and machines, which will help track calls and respond accordingly. A dedicated website has also been activated.

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