Strengthening the safety net for children through awareness and community participation, the Directorate of Social Welfare has intensified its outreach efforts across South Andaman, equipping citizens with the knowledge to recognize, prevent and report crimes against children while promoting a culture of child rights protection. Concerted efforts are made to to strengthen child protection and promote awareness of children’s rights, the Child Helpline-1098 under the Directorate of Social Welfare, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, which has conducted a series of awareness programmes across South Andaman during June 2026, reaching out to communities with vital information on child safety, legal safeguards and emergency support services.
The awareness campaign was organized at Lamba Line, Junglighat, Austinabad, Dollygunj, Haddo Ratri Niwas, Pahargaon and Haddo with the primary objective of safeguarding child rights, encouraging timely reporting of abuse and exploitation, and creating greater awareness about the services offered through Child Helpline-1098, Women Helpline-181 and the Women & Child Development (WCD) Control Room functioning at VIP Road near the GST Office.
The sessions covered a wide range of child protection issues, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, prevention of child trafficking, the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, child rights, reporting mechanisms for children in need of care and protection, and the emergency assistance available through Child Helpline-1098 and Women Helpline-181.
Participants were sensitized to the importance of promptly reporting incidents of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, trafficking and other forms of violence against children. They were also educated about the roles of key child protection institutions, including the National and State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights, District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) and Child Helpline-1098, all of which work together to ensure the safety, care and rehabilitation of vulnerable children.
The awareness sessions were facilitated by the Helpline Administrator (i/c) and Call Operators of Child Helpline-1098. A total of 216 participants actively took part in the interactive programmes, reflecting encouraging public interest in child welfare and protection.
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The month-long campaign received a positive response from the participants and significantly enhanced awareness about child rights, available protection mechanisms and the critical role of community vigilance in safeguarding children. It also reinforced awareness of the round-the-clock support available through Child Helpline-1098, Women Helpline-181 and the WCD Control Room for women and children in distress, underscoring the Administration’s continued commitment to building a safer and more responsive environment for every child.
