Helping Children
CWIN-Nepal's help line breathes new life to the children who are in the desperate need
By NIRAKAR POUDEL
Krishna Tiwari, 15, works as a helper in a public transport running between Budhanilkantha and Sundhara. He fled his native Bethan village of Ramechhap five years ago to survive from intense insurgency. However, he landed in worse place. One of his relative, maternal uncle, who brought him from his village with high sounding promises, put him in a house as a domestic servant in Kathmandu.
 |
Ever since, he has faced all kinds of discriminations, overload of works and even physical assaults. Without any outside contact, Tiwari has no option other than to live in such condition.
The situation of some other children are different. Thanks to the Help Line of CWIN-Nepal many other children who are trapped in similar conditions were rescued and were placed in child shelter.
"Had I known about the Helpline, I would not have to suffer such a trauma for such a long period of time. Now I know that organizations like CWIN-Nepal are there who can help children trapped in difficult situation," Tiwari said who had fled from his home after Maoists forced him to join their party.
Tiwari says he earns about Rs1000 (US$ 13) a month. Driver of the bus provides him food and shelter. Krishna says grudgingly that he has to work 14 hours a day. Some times he says he is beaten by the owner and bullied by other senior workers. According to an estimate, there are more than 3000 children under the age of 15 who are working as helpers in various transport vehicles including buses, mini-buses and three wheelers.
The children who are working as domestic laborers have more hard time than those working in public transport services. Many of them are working in deplorable and risky conditions.
Until a decade ago, these types of exploited children would have no one to express their problems and get good counseling. Thanks to Child Helpline service, which was started in November 20, 1998 in Kathmandu, these types of children can use the service to report on exploitation and sexual abuse against them, seek psychological counseling and request for rescue from emergency or dangerous situation. This helpline service is being run by CWIN with the aid from Save the Children ( Norway) and PLAN-Nepal in Hetauda,
Biratnagar, Pokhara, Nepalgunj and Kathmandu.
A few months back a workshop was conducted in Kathmandu to decide the role of the government and different other stake holders in Nepal's national child helpline. The main result of this workshop was that CWIN received a toll-free number 1098 and the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MOWCSW) has adopted Child Helpline-Nepal (CHN) as one of its wings.
According to CWIN-Nepal, the helpline provides services based on the field supervision and different sources of information. The identification of informant in kept confidential. After discussion within the helpline and other coordinating bodies, rescue operation, counseling, medical assistance, legal advice and rehabilitations of the rescued children are carried out.
The helpline service works in cooperation with the police, local administration and different local bodies to rescue children. Legal service is provided in coordination with the police, government lawyers and different law firms. The rescued children are sent back to their families for reintegration. If the children don't have anyone, they are rehabilitated in different children homes. Beside these the helpline service also provide
ambulance service, hotline service, first aid treatment and health service, field supervision and service related to lost children.
"Since its establishment helpline service has achieved a lot. There have been 103038 calls since its commencement. Around 32749 children have been provided first aid treatment, 978 children have been provided hospital services, 257 children have been rehabilitated back to their families and society, 1663 children have been rehabilitated to different children homes, 6621 children have been provided ambulance service, and 2284 children have been provided psychological assistance," said Madhav Pradhan, program manager of CWIN-Nepal.
All these services have played important role in formulating national policies like change in education act and change in teacher training directives. Nepal Telecom and Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare have provided free hotline service.
"We have found this helpline service more effective. The government is now planning to expand it in different parts of the country," said spokesman of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare.
From stopping the involvement of children in crimes to arresting people involved in sexual abuse and convicting people making child porn pictures and rescuing children working in carpet factories, preventing child marriage and illegal custody of adopted children, the helpline has already made a lot of progress. Because of helpline service, many lost children have been rehabilitated back to their homes. "All these achievements are remarkable," said Pradhan.
Although telephone number 1098 can rescue children in desperation and difficulties, only a few know about it. Time has come to popularize it so that every needy child can get service of this helpline.
