If you think a child in Chennai is being harmed, call 1098, the free Child Helpline, at any hour. The helpline is now linked to the national emergency number 112, and every state runs a round-the-clock control room connected to it, according to the Union Women and Child Development ministry’s Mission Vatsalya page. You do not need proof, and you do not need to be a relative. A neighbour’s worry, a teacher’s note or a child’s own call is enough to start a check.
Schools have also been told to tighten up. On 26 September 2026 the Tamil Nadu School Education Department directed schools to display key helplines at entrances and to act at once on safety concerns, DT Next reported. This guide explains who to contact, what happens next and what parents can ask of their child’s school.
Who runs 1098 in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu took over the helpline from Childline India Foundation and partner NGOs in August 2023, and the state’s Department of Child Welfare and Special Services now runs it, DT Next reported. Calls are answered at the department’s Chennai office, and field staff in each district follow up through District Child Protection Units. Help desks also work at Chennai Central, Egmore and Villivakkam railway stations, where staff each handle dozens of cases a day, many involving children who have run away or been trafficked from other states.
The service has had staffing problems. In October 2026 the department invited applications for case worker posts at the state helpline because existing staff were insufficient, DT Next reported. If 1098 is busy in an emergency, call 112, which lists child protection among its services (ERSS 112), or 100.
How to report abuse
- Make the child safe first. If the child is in immediate danger, call 112 or 100.
- Listen, do not interrogate. If a child tells you something, stay calm, believe them and do not press for details. Repeated questioning can harm the child and the case.
- Report. Call 1098, or go to the nearest police station or All Women Police Station. Police must register a complaint involving a sexual offence against a child.
- Medical care. Take the child to a government hospital for treatment and examination. Do not bathe the child or wash clothes first if a recent assault is suspected.
- Keep a record. Write down what was said and seen, with dates, while it is fresh.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 treats anyone under 18 as a child and applies to boys and girls alike. It came into force on 14 November 2012. There is no time limit for reporting under Section 19, so an adult can still complain about abuse suffered as a child, the WCD ministry has said in a PIB release that also pointed survivors to the POCSO e-Box, an online complaint channel run by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
The child’s identity must not be revealed by anyone, including on social media. Do not post names, photos or school details, even to “raise awareness”.
What happens after a report
Under the Juvenile Justice framework, a child who needs care and protection is produced before the district Child Welfare Committee, which has the powers of a first-class magistrate, the Mission Vatsalya page notes. The committee decides on immediate care, counselling and, if needed, a safe place to stay. The District Child Protection Unit supports the family and links the child to services. Criminal cases under POCSO are heard in special courts.
The child and family are entitled to free legal aid from the legal services authority whatever their income, since children are among the categories listed on the TNSLSA entitlement page.
What schools must do
The School Education Department’s September 2026 directions, as reported by DT Next, include:
- display the school helpline 14417, Child Helpline 1098 and Tele-MANAS mental health line 14416 on notice boards and at entrances;
- strictly prohibit corporal punishment, bullying, ragging and any physical or mental harassment;
- identify vulnerable students and give them support;
- cordon off damaged buildings, seal open wells and septic tanks, and inspect roofs, toilets and electrical connections;
- check fire extinguishers and emergency exits, and hold drills;
- make sure school buses and vans meet safety requirements.
Parents can reasonably ask the head teacher how the school screens staff and drivers, who students can go to with a complaint, and whether the helpline numbers are displayed. Teach children the difference between safe and unsafe touch, that some secrets must be told, and the names of three adults they can go to.
For a specific case, consult a lawyer or the legal services authority, who can guide the family through the court process.
Quick answers
What is the child helpline number in Chennai?
1098, free and round the clock. It is linked to the 112 emergency system.
Can an adult report abuse that happened in childhood?
Yes. The WCD ministry has said POCSO sets no time limit for reporting.
Which helplines must schools display?
14417 (school education), 1098 (child helpline) and 14416 (Tele-MANAS).
Who decides where a child at risk will stay?
The district Child Welfare Committee.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Mission Vatsalya (Ministry of Women and Child Development)
- Ministry of Women and Child Development
- A victim of child sexual abuse can file a complaint at any time (Press Information Bureau)
- Emergency Response Support System 112 (Ministry of Home Affairs)
- Tamil Nadu directs schools to step up safety measures (DT Next)
- 1098 child helpline faces staff shortage, poor infra and fund crunch in TN (DT Next)
- Applications invited for posts in TN child helpline 1098, district units (DT Next)
- Legal Aid: entitlement to legal services (TNSLSA)
