Ahmedabad: Every day, children across Gujarat dial 1098 not just to report emergencies, but to seek something far more basic — safety, support and someone willing to listen.Data from Childline (1098), the helpline for children which has been integrated with 112 emergency services, paints a troubling picture of the challenges faced by minors in the state. Between April 2025 and April 2026, the helpline received 1,198 distress calls, with nearly 43% falling under six major categories, including counselling, family disputes, child labour, missing children and abuse cases.Ahmedabad alone accounted for 356 calls, nearly 30% of the statewide total, highlighting the scale of urban child vulnerability. Counsellors said many complaints involved children forced into begging, struggling with substance abuse, lacking shelter or facing emotional trauma.Officials associated with Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI), which operates the service, said counselling-related calls topped the list at 126, reflecting growing emotional and mental health concerns among children. Another 116 calls were linked to family issues, ranging from domestic conflict and neglect to children fleeing hostile home environments.Child labour emerged as another major concern, with 101 complaints received during the period. Many of these cases involved minors working in small factories, roadside eateries, garages and informal establishments. Experts said economic distress and school dropouts continue to push children into exploitative work despite strict legal prohibitions.The data also revealed that 90 calls were related to missing children, while 80 involved children found wandering in public places and later reported to police agencies. Officials said such cases often involve runaway children escaping abuse, poverty or pressure at home.School-related distress accounted for 48 calls, while 26 complaints each were registered for child marriage and child abuse — figures activists believe represent only a fraction of actual cases due to underreporting and fear.“Unlike regular police helplines, Childline has trained social workers and psychologists who can speak with children sensitively and help them process trauma,” said a counsellor associated with the service. “A large number of calls are linked to domestic violence, parental disputes and children being pushed into work at an early age.”Officials added that children found to be in unsafe environments are sometimes shifted to shelters, while rehabilitation efforts are carried out in coordination with the state social justice department and police authorities.
