To support and protect children impacted by COVID-19, the Chhattisgarh government and UNICEF have jointly launched a child helpdesk and a toll-free helpline number- 1800-572-3969.
Chhattisgarh Child Helpdesk Toll-Free service will operate from 8 am to 11 pm every day, an official communique said.
Anila Bhediya, Minister of the Department of Women and Children Development said, the Child Help Desk is a significant step towards catering to the urgent needs of the children in the context of the pandemic.
The child helpdesk will provide emotional support, information and primary counselling to children who are in quarantine, isolation or COVID care centres. It will also support in ensuring shelter, care and protection to children who have COVID-19 positive parents, or have lost their parents due to the COVID-19 and are unable to take care of them, alone or abandoned.
Job Zachariah, Chief of UNICEF, Chhattisgarh said, “Children are now more vulnerable to neglect, abuse and exploitation. It has increased the risk of child marriage, child labour and trafficking. The Child helpline will cater the needs of the children but also help children in their care and protection without violating laws."
