The railway helpline for children in Bengaluru has rescued 5,259 children in the last two years who were at the risk of being pushed into child labour.
Childline, run by Bangalore Oniyavara Seva Coota (Bosco), has counselled 4,153 children and convinced them to return to their homes. The remaining 1,106 children have been referred to child care institutions through the child welfare committee.
Bosco said the rescued children included those who ran away from homes, were trafficked, abused or exploited by employers and those who tried to escape poverty and came to the city in search of work.
Children came from as far as Nepal and Bangladesh as well as some remote corners of India. People can call 1098 and report a child in distress at railway stations.