Turning the spotlight on child labour in Warangal

Warangal: More often than not the railway stations are the transit points for children before their childhood end up in quarries or hotels or factories or domestic households. Thanks to the Tharuni, a voluntary organisation working for the empowerment of adolescent girls, women and the aged, which came up with a Child Helpdesk – 1098 at Warangal Railway Station with a noble cause to help children in need of aid and assistance.

Warangal Railway Station is the fourth in Telangana after all three major railway stations – Secunderabad, Kacheguda and Nampally – in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad that have exclusive child helpdesks to rescue children getting lost in railway stations. In all, there are 512 railway stations in the country working on the guidelines issued by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). These helpdesks take children to shelter homes, where they were counselled and reunited with their families. Children who are not aware of their address will be sent to shelter homes.

Cases of children boarding trains from nondescript railway stations and getting lost in major stations is more, unmindful of the lurking danger. However, it's a different scenario in railway stations like Warangal.

Speaking to The Hans India, Tharuni Warangal Coordinator K Vasudha said: "Cases of children being transported to cities like Warangal for the purpose of child labour are rampant. The Child Helpdesk would address such cases. We have a team of 12 including a coordinator, counsellor, team members and volunteers." A stall has been allotted to the Child Helpdesk in Warangal Railway Station for Tharuni to function. It's learnt that plans are afoot to set up Child Helpdesk – 1098 in Khammam and Ramagundam shortly.

Warangal Urban District Collector Prashanth Jeevan Patil, who inaugurated the Child Helpdesk – 1098 at Warangal Railway Station on Thursday, said: "Emphasis should be on finding a permanent solution to prevent recurrence of children vulnerable to child labour. During Operation Muskaan it has been found that

the same children are being caught again and again, this despite authorities' best efforts to save these kids' childhood. Against this backdrop, we need to study the socioeconomic conditions of these children, besides providing livelihood opportunities to their parents."

The orphan children, who were found in railway station, would be admitted to Urban Residential School run by the education department. A plan is on the anvil to run mini schools near brick kiln units for the convenience of children belonging to labourers, Patil said.