Community Resources for Responding to Child Sexual Abuse

in Mumbai, India

To Lodge a Complaint/File a Report

1098 - Toll Free 24-hr. CHILDLINE helpline number – For all children in need of care and protection, especially the most vulnerable, who include:

  • Children affected by physical / sexual / emotional abuse in family, schools or institutions.
  • Street children and youth living alone on the streets
  • Child labourers working in the unorganised and organized sectors
  • Domestic help, especially girl domestics
  • Children who need emotional support and guidance
  • Children of commercial sex workers
  • Child victims of the flesh trade
  • Victims of child trafficking
  • Children abandoned by parents or guardians
  • Missing children
  • Run away children
  • Children who are victims of substance abuse
  • Differently-abled children
  • Children in conflict with the law
  • Children in institutions
  • Mentally challenged children
  • HIV/ AIDS infected children
  • Children affected by conflict and disaster
  • Child political refugees
  • Children whose families are in crises

CHILDLINE provides:

Direct assistance – protection from abuses, medical, shelter, repatriation, child death, missing children, intensive counseling

Phone support – emotional support and guidance on how to proceed, information and referral to services, silent calls

Long Term Rehabilitation – after emergency needs are addressed, CHILDLINE explores options to study, learn a trade, return home.

Police

Child Sexual Abuse- Mandatory Reporting requires by law that every adult who knows of or suspects child sexual abuse must report it to the police.

  • Ask to make the report to the Special Juvenile Police Unit.
  • The police must then report the incident to the *Child Welfare Committee.

Domestic violence – Victim of violence can register a complaint (FIR) within 24 hours of incident.

  • At every police station there is a women’s cell for lodging a complaint.
  • NGO counselors that intervene in divorce cases are placed at some police stations.

*Child Welfare Committee

A child can be brought before the Committee by a police officer, any public servant, CHILDLINE personnel, any social worker or public spirited citizen, or by the child himself/herself.

Step 1- Child is referred to CWC for further action.

Step 2 - Child is placed at the reception home for protection - Either at a government-recognized children’s home or children’s institution, or shelter home.

Step 3- Child is submitted in front of CWC within 24 hours of the complaint.

Step 4- Child is assessed by CWC.

Step 5- Final report is made by the probation officer with recommendations for a safe home and environment – parents, adoptive parents, foster home.

Step 6- Final order on the case needs to be given within 4 months by the CWC.

103 Helpline

Home Department, Government of Maharashtra, 9th floor, New Administrative Building, Opp. Mantralaya, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400032

7738133133.

Helpline number: 103
Send a Text message to 7738133133/ 7738144144

Use 103 for lodging complaints of Cyber Crime - pornography, vulgar calls, vulgar photos

International Justice Mission- NGO working for trafficking cases

Telephone: 9920733395 located at Goregaon

Other Resources

Aarambh

Resources for parents, teachers, reporters, lawyers, doctors, police, NGOs and acadmicians.

Infographics on CSA laws, guidelines and to-do’s

A directory of national and international organizations working on CSA.

Arpan

Counseling services are offered to adult survivors of CSA at the Arpan centres (Goregaon, Vile Parle, Vasai, Bhandup) to help them recover, heal, address current challenges and feel empowered.

Write to Arpan at

Call for counseling support on +91.98190.86444

The Foundation, Project H.E.A.L.

Offers holistic rehabilitation and healing for victims of CSA. Also advocacy for surviviors.

Office address: 21-D, 3rd Floor,Film Center Building,68, Tardeo Road, Tardeo,Mumbai 400034

Telephone: +91 22 23521641

Majlis, RAHAT

Provides socio-legal support for victims/survivors of sexual violence. Guidance for approaching the police, hospitals, shelter homes, and the courts. A collaboration between the Department of Women and Child Development and Majlis Legal Centre.

  • Helps survivors access services she is entitled to – medical, trauma counseling, shelter, educational assistance.
  • Helps survivors navigate the justice system by providing legal assistance during investigation and trial.

Mobile: 9930262833