Railway stations, bustling with travelers and endless movement, can be overwhelming—especially for vulnerable children who find themselves lost, abandoned, or in distress. To safeguard and support these children, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, along with the Child Welfare Department, has mandated the establishment of Child Help Desks at select railway stations. These dedicated spaces serve as a first point of contact for at-risk children, ensuring their immediate safety and long-term protection.
What is a Child Help Desk?
A Child Help Desk is a designated room at railway stations that provides immediate assistance to children in distress. This 6×6 space is staffed by representatives from CHILDLINE and a selected NGO, operating free of cost and equipped with a telephone facility for quick coordination. The purpose is simple but crucial—to identify and support children in crisis and facilitate their reintegration with their families or transition to appropriate care.
Who Needs the Help Desk?
Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (amended in 2021), children in need of care and protection at railway stations include:
- Unaccompanied children in need of support
- Children traveling alone and in crisis
- Missing children found at stations or in moving trains
- Victims of trafficking
- Children separated from families due to abandonment or lost connections
- Runaway children
- Homeless children living at stations
- Child laborers working at stations or on trains
- Physically challenged, ill, or injured children at stations
- Children facing abuse or vulnerable to exploitation
- Children struggling with drug addiction
- Ragpickers and child beggars
- Abandoned or disabled children
How Does the Child Help Desk Assist?
Once a child in distress is identified, they are brought to the Child Help Desk, where their immediate needs are met—providing water, food, clean clothing, and a place to rest. The team then works to build trust with the child, encouraging them to share details about their situation. With their cooperation, efforts are made to reunite them with their families or place them under the care of a child welfare organization, ensuring their safety and well-being.
Case Study: Aarush’s Boredom Turns Fatal at Kishanganj Before Team RCI Brings Him Back Home
The significance of Child Help Desks is best illustrated through real-life rescues, like that of 11-year-old Aarush*.
Aarush, part of a family of seven, had recently moved to Delhi with his father, Imran, who worked in a factory. Left alone in a small room for hours, Aarush felt isolated and yearned for familiarity. One morning, overwhelmed by loneliness, he wandered out without informing his father, hoping to reach Kishanganj Railway Station in Bihar, a place he had heard about. Unfamiliar with the city, he soon found himself lost at a railway station, scared and uncertain of his next steps.
A Railway Children India (RCI) team member noticed Aarush’s distress and approached him with care. After a gentle conversation, Aarush shared his story and his father’s contact number. The RCI team immediately called Imran, who was frantic with worry and relieved to hear his son was safe.
Following protocol, the team filed a Daily Diary (DD) entry with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Kishanganj, took Aarush for a medical examination at Hindu Rao Hospital, and provided him with a secure overnight stay at DMRC Children’s Home in Tis Hazari. A few days later, Aarush was presented before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), where his father was also present. Upon ensuring Aarush’s safety and Imran’s ability to care for him, the CWC approved their reunion. Imran, overwhelmed with emotion, embraced his son and thanked the RCI staff for their support.
Back home, Aarush learned the importance of communication, while his father gained awareness of the services available to protect vulnerable children. Their story highlights the vital role that Child Help Desks play in ensuring that children in distress find safety, support, and a way back home.
The Impact of Child Help Desks
The presence of Child Help Desks at railway stations is a beacon of hope for children in vulnerable situations. Beyond immediate rescue and reunification, these desks contribute to broader child protection efforts by raising awareness, preventing trafficking, and offering rehabilitation support.
*Name and details changed to protect the confidentiality of the child.
