THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ‘Thanal’, Child Welfare Committee’s helpline receives over 60 calls a month regarding children suffering atrocities at the hands of parents. According to K. Bahuleyan Nair, the state coordinator of the Child Welfare Committee, they receive at least two calls daily about atrocities done by parents. Calls are mostly from children, relatives, and neighbors. Most of these calls are from Thiruvananthapuram.

‘Thanal’ was formed by the state government at all 14 districts of the state in 2017 to put a hold on atrocities against children. They received an alarming 24, 632 calls till March.

According to psychiatrists, the usage of drugs is behind the cruelty towards children. Atrocities towards children are mainly done by partners of divorced people. Most of these cases only become public when these kids are badly injured. Any deed that hinders or wane the mental and physical state of a child is child abuse.

A criminal case can be charged against parents on the statement of the child. In a recent survey, children in 11, 72, 433 families live in unsafe surroundings.