Thiruvananthapuram: The railway childline here has logged 281 cases since its inception eight months ago. This is highest compared to other five railway childline centres functioning in other parts of Kerala. Quarter of the cases relates to students bunking classes and accessing free Wi-Fi available in railway stations.
The childline officials had rescued 251 boys and 30 girls, out of which 132 children were Keralites and 70 from Tamil Nadu. Children from other states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan, and three children from neighbouring country Nepal were also rescued. Ninety-eight children were rehabilitated at shelter homes.
The railway childline started functioning in February with an aim to rescue children which were found wandering in railway stations. Most children are runaways from their homes or shelter homes, said the officials. Nearly 175 children ran away from their homes due to mental stress. Some children rescued were brought for child labour or as part of sex-trafficking.
Office on platform 2
The office of the railway childline is situated on the second platform of the railway station here. A team of 12, including coordinators and counsellors, is stationed at the office and has the full support of the railway’s ‘Child Help’ groups.
