Stay updated with breaking news from Shano jose. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Concern over children addicted to online games thehindu.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thehindu.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Help desk at Ernakulam Junction station rescues 507 children Updated: Updated: Over 50% of those rescued from trains and station are from Kerala Share Article Over 50% of those rescued from trains and station are from Kerala In less than three years since its launch, the Railway Child Help Desk (RCHD) operating from the Ernakulam Junction station has rescued 507 children, including 66 girls. While over 50% of the children rescued from trains and the station were from Kerala, the rest were from other States, predominantly Bihar. A majority of the rescued children were aged between 15 and 18 years. It was on June 7, 2018, that the RCHD started operating from the first platform of the station as a joint initiative of the district administration, the Ministries of Railway and Women and Child Development, and Sahrudaya Child Welfare Service. It was set up in view of the growing incidents of child exploitation on account of Kochi’s rising profile as a city of opportunities. Three similar help desks operate in Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Thrissur. “A majority of the rescued children from within Kerala were found to have fled broken families or run away for trivial reasons such as being scolded or denied desired gadgets. Children from outside are mostly victims of child labour and though they are alone when we rescue them, the presence of their family members or relatives accompanying them in the vicinity could not be ruled out,” said Shano Jose, coordinator, RCHD, Ernakulam.