A simple call at the number 1098 will ensure immediate assistance for children in trouble, anywhere in the Capital. Manned by trained personnel, this number will be operational 24 hours a day and will not cost the caller any money.

Sponsored by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and patronised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Childline Project will be handled by five NGOs in Delhi. The Salaam Balak Trust will be responsible for taking care of these children in central Delhi, Prayas in north Delhi, Butterflies in south Delhi, Don Bosco Ashalaya in west Delhi and Delhi Brotherhood Society in east Delhi.

Shweta Gandhi, city coordinator for the project, said, ``A two-day workshop was conducted to train the para-professionals who will be rendering this service. Apart from attending calls, they have been trained to give first-aid, go out and rescue the child in trouble and bring him to the shelter home if needed. Three para-professionals will man the phones so that during an emergency two can go and rescue the child in distress''.

Gandhi added that to disseminate information about the helpline several workshops had been held with street children in different areas as the probability of them coming across troubled children was higher. ``For a literate child it is very easy to remember the number as it is reverse counting (10-9-8). For the illiterate children, we have made a small poem. It goes like this: Chota danda (1), uske peeche anda (0), babaji ki chatri (9), do chote ande (8) or a small stick, followed by an egg, an old man's umbrella and two small eggs. The project has been very successful in Mumbai and the children there made up this jingle''.

She said that Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) would soon issue letters to be given to all PCOs so that they do not charge money for calls made on 1098. The chief minister said that this project would bring about a much-needed change and go a long way in helping abused and exploited children.

Amod Kanth, Joint Commissioner of Police (south) and the man behind Prayas, one of the largest organisations for destitute children, said that this was their most ambitious project so far and hoped that it would be successful. Among others who attended the function were union ministers Maneka Gandhi and Madan Lal Khurana.