Now, dial 1098 for baby food, sanitisers, masks at rly stn

Ludhiana: Taking serious note of the requirements of woman passengers travelling with their toddlers on long-route trains, members of Childline India Foundation unit here have decided to station a team at the railway station from Monday for providing basic amenities like baby foods, sanitisers, masks, diapers, along with shoes and clothes to needy families, by dialling 1098 toll free number.
For the past three days, the team had suspended its service at the city station but with resumption of this service on-board woman as well senior citizens could able to receive baby foods, packed food item and other daily use things without facing any sort of inconvenience during hot weather conditions.
The team will consist of 11 members. Apart from helping passengers, it will also be taking care of minor children who get separated from their family members while travelling in trains. As per the data available with TOI, as many as 200 minor children have been rescued by them in the past one year, and this time they have decided to conduct inspection during night hours as well.
For this, they are trying to coordinate with railway security forces, so that they can easily keep an eye on minor children roaming on platform, who get separated from their families.
Kuldeep Singh Mann, director, Childline Ludhiana, said, “Childline India Foundation has partnered with Swami Ganga Nand Bhuriwale International Foundation, Dham Talwandi Khurd, to resume this service here at the city station for overcoming the grievances of passengers related to non-availability of basic things. The total funding of the project will be by the government.”
Mann said, “The team will have seven members of Childline Ludhiana, three volunteers, one part-time counsellor and one full time coordinator. In Punjab, thieir centre will be in Ludhiana and Amritsar railway station as of now.”
Ludhiana station director Tarun Kumar said, “There have been several instances where women have raised the issue of not able to find baby food items. To counter this Childline team members will be deputed at the city station from Monday onwards.”
“Moreover, the office of Childline has already opened on platform number 1. However, a new room is also being constructed for them at different regional stations under Ludhiana district. The helpline number to inform any matter related to minor children is 2701098,” he added.