Gyalshing, 28th August, 2019 (IPR): The Childline Collaborative Organisation, Gyalshing organised its first childline advisory board meeting at Zilla Bhawan, Gyalshing. Present as the Chairperson was District Magistrate Shri. Karma R. Bonpo along with ADC West Shri. Karma L. lepcha; Smt. Bandana Rai Joint Secretary (Welfare); Shri. Sonam Wangdi Bhutia, SDPO Gyalshing and other Officials.

DC West mentioned that a Childline Helpline center needs to be established at Yuksam and Soreng at the earliest with the help of Local NGOs. He stated that the Officials need to know their roles in regards to Childcare and child welfare. He also asked all Sub Divisional Magistrates and Block Development Officers of West Sikkim to implement and sensitize the public about the Childline Helpline at their respective offices and areas of jurisdictions. He mentioned that proper sensitization needs to be carried out in order to tackle child related problems and cases in the District hence, he urged that the lead of proper guidance needs to be taken by the DCPO West.

The Coordinator, childline (West), Mr. Chitran Rai gave an power point presentation on vision and mission of the organisation, objectives of childline – 1098, actions of childline, intervention model, childline child protection activities and the notable achievements and exercises of the Childline collaborative organisation so far.

The main agenda of the meeting was to form the Childline Advisory Board (CAB), mass publicity of child helpline number – 1098, pasting of childline-1098 logo/stickers in the transport vehicles and others, Incorporation of childline logo in all official website with proper circular, demand of establishing two more childline sub-centres in Soreng and Yuksam, making of child friendly rooms in police stations, permission for conducting awareness generation program in every schools, formations of volunteers group in village level, Gram Panchayat level and block level and trainings.

The meeting also had an open discussion where the framing of future strategies and action plans for eradicating child trafficking, child labour, child abuse and other issues from the district were discussed.

The numbers of Childline West Sikkim are: 9735224481; 8158068831 and the TOLL FREE No. is 1098.