Name, College, Year of Study
Afsana Khan, Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad (2019-2014) (5-year, BA LLB course)
Name and address of the organization
Childline, Archbishop’s House, Thiruvananthapuram – Thenmala Rd, Althara Nagar, Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695003
DURATION
November 11- December 11, 2019
INTRODUCTION
As a part of winter internship programs, I interned at Childline, a department of Trivandrum Social Service society (TSSS) from 11th November 2019 to 11th December 2019. I was under the supervision of Mr. Kirandas. I worked in all the departments of TSSS helping them, imbibing knowledge and gaining work experience. I utilized the internship to the most to learn about new things and understand the working of the service society.
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION
Out of the 8 wings of TSSS, I chose to work in the Childline, a project of Ministry of Women and Child Development. Childline was first established as an experimental project in June 1996, by Jeroo Billimoria, a professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai at the department of Family and Child Welfare. Subsequently, Government of India, established the Childline across India in 1998-99, under Ministry of Women and Child Development, as an umbrella organisation to support and monitor services across India, while also serving as link between the ministry and various NGOs working the field. The Secretary of the Ministry functions as the chairperson of the Governing Board of the Foundation. Some of the objectives of Childline are:
- To provide a platform for networking amongst organizations and to strengthen the support systems which facilitate the rehabilitation for children in especially difficult circumstances;
- To sensitize agencies such as the public, hospitals, municipal corporations and the railways towards the problems faced by these children;
- To provide an opportunity to public to respond to the needs of children in difficult circumstances.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
During the course of internship in Childline, I acquired the qualities of time management, efficiency, responsibility, obedience, team work and the works done by a Child line. The internship had a major impact on my personality development and organizing skills. I had an opportunity to read FIRs on the POCSO and juvenile justice and write analysis of the same. Since I took the topic “sexual atrocities against children”, I was asked to prepare a Child sexual abuse (CSA) track sheet of the year 2019 was to be prepared. I had to read each case dealing with child sexual abuse and categorize it accordingly based on the given information.
For understanding the cases and types of cases, I was asked to read the POCSO 2012 Act. It had all types of sexual offences recognized by law like sexual assault, penetrative sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated penetrative sexual assault, sexual harassment etc. It also had the punishments given for such offences like 3 to 5 years for sexual assault, not less than 7 years for penetrative sexual assault, not less than 10 years for aggravated penetrative sexual assault etc. The POCSO act 2012 helped the intern understand the different types of assaults and its punishments and more over the difference between these assaults which could not have been understood without reading the act. It was helpful in determining the type of assault just by reading the facts of the cases. The CSA track sheet included many indicators like Case ID, Name, Sex, Age, Call received Trend of reporting Mandatory reporting to police as per Sec.19 (1) of POCSO Act, Reported by, Time taken for reporting, Level of tolerance of survivor before reporting, Type of Abuse, Abuser, Offender from relative, Nature of abuse in incest cases, Place of abuse, Nature of support provided, Nature of support provided etc. the intern even helped the NGO organize Marathon and other programs to bring awareness among people about child sexual abuse.
OVERALL EXPERIENCE
The child line and the TSSS provided all kinds of support and guidance. I was nervous in the first day but later on was able to cope up with the working of the organization. The organization provided ample number of opportunities for me to showcase the talents. I was always asked about the suggestions in all the programs. The organization and its members were trying their best to provide a friendly atmosphere. The child line members especially the coordinator was very helpful and always welcomed genuine doubts. The organization is running successfully. I would always be recommended to intern in a child line to learn more about abuses faced by children
