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Atma Railway Child Help Desk

(1st May 2018 - 31st July 2023)

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Project Report

The Railway Child Help Desk (RCHD) is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Railways to ensure the care and protection, security and well- being of run-away, unaccompanied and trafficked children who come in contact with the railways.

ATMA Foundation was the collaborative partner of Childline India Foundation for the implementation of Railway Child Help Desk service in Thrissur District. ATMA RCHD started functioning at Thrissur Railway Station on 1st May 2018. The ATMA RCHD team, led by Project Director Sri C K Suresh, consisted of 12 members - including a coordinator, a counsellor, 7 team members and 3 volunteers. As per SOP, the ATMA RCHD Kiosk at Platform No.1, Thrissur Railway Station, was manned 24x7 by 3 personnel.

Activities of ATMA RCHD

I. Child Rescue & Protection:

  • Platform Observation , Train Observation & Premises Observation to identify children in need
  • Providing immediate assistance - food, medical support, counselling, etc
  • Ensuring the child's safety through Government mechanisms - taking the child to the Child Welfare Committee, reconciling with family, etc

II. Regular Outreach

Daily outreach among passengers and railway stakeholders in the trains, railway platform and premises

III. Special Awareness Programs

Innovative mass awareness drives are conducted on special days like International Child Helpline Day, Anti Child Labour Day, Childline se Dosthi Week, etc. Poster distribution, spot quiz, oath taking, signature campaigns, etc are done to reach out to the larger public, and to increase the visibility of Childline services.

Support Systems

The RCHD closely networked and collaborated with various Govt agencies and their personnel.
This included:

  • The Station Director, Station Manager & Railway Staff at Thrissur Railway Station
  • The Railway protection Force & the GRP
  • The unorganised sector at the Thrissur Railway Station
  • The Child Welfare Committee, Thrissur
  • Childline Nodal office at Vimala College, Thrissur
  • ChildlineCollab Office at Christina Home, Thrissur

To support the effective functioning of the RCHD, the Child Help Group was formed at the Thrissur Railway Station, with the involvement and participation of all Railway Stakeholders. The CHG had regular meetings, where RCHD activities were reviewed and suggestions for improvement discussed.

ATMA - Going an extra mile…

ATMA Foundation extended support to the various stakeholders in the Railway Station premises, and the inhabitants of the Railway Colony. This included initiatives like distribution of free school kits to the children in the Railway colony, grocery kits to the daily wage workers, etc.

Impact

  • 1059 children rescued and restored to their families
  • Over 1 lakh railway passengers and other stakeholders given awareness about Child Rights through regular outreach

Handing Over

As per the new policy of the Government of India, the activities of Childline have been taken over directly by the district administration. As per thai directive, the ATMA Railway Child Help Desk was handed over to the District Child Protection Unit on 31st July 2023.

ATMA FOUNDATION