NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, NOV 21
The week-long “Childline Se Dosti” to mark the Child Rights Week observed between Nov. 14 to Nov. 20 every year across the nation with the intent to protect, respect the dignity of every child in the country. The campaign which was facilitated by the Childline India Foundation culminated with the Child Rights Day programmes at the Dr. MGR Chennai Central Railway Station on Friday.
A release from Southern Railway CPRO said, “World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day and is celebrated on 20th November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare. In 1989 the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since 1990, World Children’s Day also marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the Declaration and the Convention on children’s rights.
CHILDLINE observed the 31st anniversary of UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) with a program at Dr MGR Central Railway Station in collaboration with the Railways, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) .
The joint outreach program was conducted to create awareness among the railway passengers on the helpline numbers. The national helpline for children in distress – 1098 ( toll free 24 hrs child helpline ), the RPF toll free number 182 and GRP toll free number 1512 was communicated to the passengers with a request to inform if any child/children are found in the Railway premises or in the moving train missing, run away, trafficked, lost, abandoned or abused.
During the program, the stakeholders in the railway station like RPF, GRP, Bomb squad, Passenger Security Cell, TTEs and the secondary stakeholders who have rescued children in contact with railways were felicitated by Shri Uma Shankar, Station Director, Dr MGR Chennai Central.
The care and protection of children and various child protection measures taken by the Railways were highlighted. A pledge was taken by all stakeholders to protect every child, the release added.
