Karnataka’s child rights panel calls for stronger helpline visibility, better help desks and training for railway personnel to curb rising child rights violations.
Raising concern over repeated incidents of child trafficking and rights violations at railway stations, the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has written to Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna, urging immediate reinforcement of child protection systems across all stations in the country.
In its letter, the commission stressed the need to mandate the display of the child helpline number 1098 at every railway station and in all train coaches, noting that visibility of the emergency number remains inconsistent. According to the panel, this simple measure can significantly increase public awareness and ensure faster intervention during emergencies involving children.
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The KSCPCR highlighted serious gaps in existing help desk services at several stations. During inspections, the commission observed that many help desks lacked basic facilities and were unable to function effectively when cases required quick coordination.
“We noticed multiple challenges at help desks, and these need immediate improvement to handle emergencies efficiently,” the letter stated, calling for better infrastructure and staffing support.
Along with infrastructural upgrades, the panel has recommended regular training programmes for personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the State railway police. The aim is to ensure that officials understand key provisions of child rights laws and respond swiftly when vulnerable children are identified.
KSCPCR chairperson Shashidhar Kosambe said that while a few stations display the helpline number, it is still not a requirement across the railway network. He emphasised that staff must be equipped to act immediately when children are found in distress and must be aware of the legal protections guaranteed to them.