The dedicated State level Woman helpline number 1090 for taking complaints of women has now started accepting complaints from children too.
According to the new arrangement, the women helpline number 1090 which was receiving complaints of women would be taking complaints of children as well, told the Director General of Police (DGP) Nanden Dube.
DGP Dube told that at present Children Helpline -1098 is functional in 21 districts by Child Foundation India.
This is monitored from Mumbai. It was decided that children should be connected under the same Women Helpline -1090 number so that children could contact and complain at the same number in case of any emergency.All the senior officials have been instructed regarding the new arrangement and as the police officials used to work promptly after receiving complaint from women the same process would be applicable with the complaints received from children.
In the new integrated system of complaints the nodal officer who is of the rank Additional Superintendent of Police would be handling the complaints of the children.
It would be ensured that the complaints received would be dealt with high priority and sensitivity and immediate action would be taken on the complaint.
Notably, the police headquarters claimed that the woman helpline number 1090 has started accepting the complaint from children, but ironically, even the complaints by the women are not being received at this number.
At around 8.45 pm, when this correspondent called on this number, the call made on this number was forwarded to the police control room at 100 and the control room has no knowledge about woman helpline or this service’s extension to children as well.