Delhi WCD-NGO joint roadmap in works to plug child safety gaps

New Delhi: Despite more than 2.18 lakh distress calls to Child Helpline 1098 between Sept 2023 and Dec 2025—and 14,684 cases escalated to District Child Protection Units (DCPUs)—a large number of vulnerable children in Delhi still fall outside the protection net. Many remain on the streets, and even those aware of support systems often struggle to access them. This gap has prompted the Department of Women and Child Development to work with civil society organisations on a joint roadmap aimed at strengthening last-mile delivery of child protection services.
The push gathered momentum during a recent multi-stakeholder consultation organised by CHETNA (Childhood Enhancement Through Training and Action) along with Delhi govt. More than 90 participants, including govt officials, NGOs and children, met to discuss how to make the city safer and more responsive for at-risk children. Officials shared updates on the functioning of protection systems, noting that the 24×7 helpline remains a critical emergency link connecting children in crisis to rescue, care and long-term rehabilitation. Operating through a central control room, district units and help desks at major transport hubs, it is often the first point of contact for children seeking assistance. However, the stakeholders also pointed to ongoing challenges. Children living on the streets or in migrant families often remain outside formal systems. Strict Aadhaar requirements and the absence of basic documents, such as birth certificates, continue to prevent them from accessing education, healthcare and welfare schemes. Participants said closing this gap will require focused community outreach, easier documentation procedures and continued coordination between government agencies and civil society — particularly at the neighbourhood level, where children are most at risk of being left out. Dr Rashmi Singh said the department is committed to working closely with civil society groups to ensure children receive the full benefit of govt schemes. Stronger community awareness, better scheme delivery and consistent collaborative action are essential, she said. Sanjay Gupta, Director of CHETNA, said such consultations help bring policy closer to ground realities and strengthen coordination among agencies working for children. The proposed action plan includes joint awareness campaigns, wider promotion of the child helpline in schools and communities, cross-learning visits between departments and NGOs, and regular consultations to identify gaps early. Stronger coordination between departments handling Aadhaar, education, labour, health and child protection is expected to streamline documentation and service access. Joint research will assess whether govt schemes are reaching the most marginalised children, while NGOs plan to expand work in sports for development, mental health, gender awareness, life skills and vocational training. Officials and child rights groups said the next phase must move from mere announcements to tangible, on-ground change.