The ChildLine India Foundation, an organisation for the welfare of street children, will soon finalise plans to launch itself in 310 cities and districts across India by 2011-2012, supported by the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) in the Eleventh Five Year Plan.

The organisation, which provides the toll-free 1098 helpline for street children all over India is looking to reach at least half of the total number of districts in India by the end of the plan.

The move was made as per the stipulations set by the Ministry of Women and Child Welfare in its Child Protection initiatives included in the plan.

“The government’s plan was to reach all 596 districts in India but we decided that with the budgetary provisions it would be better to start by hitting 310 or so,” said Nishit Kumar, head, awareness and advocacy, Child Line India.

The organisation is India’s response to UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child and is the nodal agency for all child help lines in India, providing a link between the Ministry and various NGOs.

While the organisation has already begun a ‘need assessment’ process across 20 cities and towns across the country in order to map out resources for children in these areas, the ICPS proposal for the entire expansion process is still awaiting the cabinet committee’s approval. The process will help develop a resource directory and identify NGOs from various areas. 

 “We are trying to structure a model and have a ChildLine advisory board that has representatives from different fields. It is a three to six month process,” said Kumar, adding that this phase is without any budgetary support from the government. He also said that once the ICPS is passed, it will be easier for the expansion process to continue.

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