EMERGENCY HELPLINE FOR CHILDREN
The MCF has continued to lead the CHILDLINE activities in Dehradun, serving as a first-responder to children in crisis.
During the annual CHILDLINE Se Dosti week the team carried out a variety of activities with the children and local community, including a vsit to the local news paper Amar Ujjala, watching a film on “good touch bad touch”, child labour etc organized in the schools, a cricket match, and having children tie dosti (friendsh
ip) bands on wrists of police officers.The team also ran a signature campaign to spread awareness about the ills of child begging and child labour.
Under the MCF CHILDLINE program this year we have helped 614 children under these categories
- Medical: from holes in the heart to operations to basic first aid and medical examinations
- Shelter: mostly involving taking lost children to homes for children.
- Restoration to family: children restored to their families when it is in the best interest of the child
- Protection from abuse: from sexual abuse to corporal punishment to violence in homes and outside
- Sponsorship: financial or in kind assistance from other organizations – from education to medical bills.
- Referred by another CHILDLINE: .
- Missing children: Helping children who are lost and helping parents file FIRs to find their lost children.
- Emotional support and guidance: counselling of children in different areas
- Unclassified: any other issues where a child needs help.
The MCF CHILDLINE team conducts daily outreach in different areas of the city and hosts at least one “open house” every month in different locations such as the railway and bus stations, the parade ground, Gandhi Park, shelter homes, and in the slums. We have established children’s groups in the slums of Shastri Nagar, Sapera Basti and Chamanpuri, and this year celebrated “PABAM Day” — the anniversary of the MCF’s founding on 21st May — with the children of government shelter home Rajkiya Shishu/Balika Niketan Dehradun.
In addition to providing direct aid to the children, the MCF continuously networks with government officials and other organizations to ensure that services for children are optimal. In turn, this enables the MCF to build alliances with others working on issues related to children.
