THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Veena George, the Minister of Health, Women and Child Development, has announced that the 1098 toll-free call center system formerly operated by the Childline India Foundation has been fully integrated into the Women and Child Development Department. The emergency number 1098 dedicated to child services and urgent assistance remains available 24/7.

To enhance its efficiency, state-level control rooms and district-level units have been established. Currently, the State Control Room is staffed with 18 dedicated employees. Similarly, district-level units comprising eight members each have been instituted functioning alongside the DCPO units. Additionally, helplines are operational at Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kozhikode railway stations.

The central State Control Room is situated at the Directorate of the Women and Child Development Department in Thiruvananthapuram. Calls made to the number 1098 are routed to this state control room. Subsequently, these calls are directed to the corresponding Child Helpline Unit in the respective districts ensuring prompt intervention and necessary actions.

In situations requiring immediate attention, urgent calls will be seamlessly transferred to the number 112 facilitating swift and appropriate measures. The coordination of Childline services with the public emergency number 112 has been established while retaining the well-known number 1098.