Open shelter for children rescued at Tiruchi railway junction

An open shelter to accommodate children rescued at Tiruchi railway junction has been established near the Central Bus Stand here.

This is a joint initiative of Railway Children India and SEVAI, both non-governmental organisations. The open shelter which was inaugurated on Friday at the District Welfare Committee building would act as a short stay home for children rescued by the outreach workers of Railway Children India.

The shelter would be managed by a team of social workers, counsellor and caregivers round the clock for the rescued children requiring immediate care and protection before they were reunited with their parents after producing them before the Child Welfare Committee, said a representative of Railway Children India here.

Runaway, missing or abandoned children rescued from Tiruchi railway junction would be brought to the open shelter after duly following the standard operating protocol by informing the Station Master and the Government Railway Police.

They would be accommodated at the open shelter before producing them before the Child Welfare Committee within 24 hours, said the official adding that the rescued child could stay in the shelter for 120 days with the CWC direction.

Upon ascertaining every detail and carrying out due checks, the child would be reunited with its parents wherever possible. The rescued child would be sent to a long term care centre in case the child's parents were untraceable, the official said.

The Railway Children India, which works in four railway stations in Tamil Nadu including Tiruchi and Villupuram, had opened a Child Assistance Booth at Tiruchi railway Junction a few months ago in association with Tiruchi Railway Division and SEVAI. Destitute children could also make use of the open shelter established near the Central Bus Stand, the official added.
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