Udupi: Deputy Commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati said on Monday that more steps were needed to popularise the child helpline in the district. She was chairing a meeting of the District Child Helpline Advisory Committee at the District Offices Complex here.

Ms. Korlapati said that popularising the helpline is essential to protect children from atrocities. Officials should come up with programmes to do so within 10 days, she said.

Besides creating awareness among children and parents, it is essential to popularise the helpline by putting up posters in public spaces and on buses and autorickshaws, the DC said. Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) too should be roped in to create awareness, Ms. Korlapati said.

She directed officials to hold children’s meeting at the village level every month. It is necessary to identify a leader among children to popularise the helpline, she said, adding that the action to be taken on calls received by the helpline should also be discussed.

All departments should work in coordination on the issue of child protection. The logo of the child helpline should be displayed at all programmes of all departments, including the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Ms. Korlapati said.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police Nisha James said the statements of children should be given priority in case of child rescue. Action should be taken in such cases after exploring the matter comprehensively, she said.

Arvind, the district helpline coordinator, said at the meeting that 22 calls have been received by the child helpline in the district since March. He said appropriate action was taken on all calls.

It was also agreed that the helpline should be popularised in educational institutions, with its numbers (1098) being displayed in all schools and colleges.

Workshops on atrocities against children, child labour, child marriage and other related issues should also be held, Mr. Arvind said. He also urged the departments concerned to take action and rescue child beggars at least once in a month.

Kaveri, member-secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Gracy Gonsalves, Deputy Director of Women and Child Welfare, Veena, Child Development Project Officer, and Chitra Anchan, senior programme coordinator, Child India Foundation, were among those present at the meeting.