CHENNAI: On the lines of the child help desks at Chennai Central and Egmore stations, Southern Railways has proposed to set up similar desks at important stations. In total, six stations – Coimbatore and Madurai in Tamil Nadu besides four in Kerala – have been submitted to the railway board.
As per the recommendations of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, a children assistance centre is mandatory at every railway station, wherein a dedicated space is allocated for children in need of care and protection. Such space should have adequate arrangement for food, temporary shelter, clothing, toilet and first aid and medicines. The centre is operated by a voluntary organisation, with assistance from Railway Protection Force (RPF) and CHILDLINE- 1098 helpline.
S C Parhi, Inspector General cum Chief Security Commissioner, Southern Railways, said RPF has rescued 615 runaway children at different stations during 2016 and handed over them to parents or child NGOs for better care. In Chennai division alone, 241 runaway children have been rescued. “We have written to the board to include six more stations. Once permitted, the desk will be run by a nominated NGO.”
According to him, 27 vulnerable stations in Southern Railway zone have been identified for implementing the Integrated Security System (ISS) under the second phase.
A composite surveillance mechanism, ISS was already in 14 stations in the zone. Now, the railway board has asked zonal railways to nominate other stations. As such, a new list of 27 stations, including Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Chengalpattu, Gummidipoondi, Velachery, Sulurpeta and Kanchipuram falling under the Chennai railway division, has been compiled.
Parhi also claimed that incidents of drugging, theft and dacoity has reduced by 24 per cent in 2016 than the previsions year.