Haveeru has reported that the Ministry of Family will be establishing a “Child Help Line” to cater for children who have problems: http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/?page=details&id=17774 I suppose that means children can call into this number and get help! This was also a suggestions that has been put forth by one contributor to CAWM.

The report also said that the Family Ministry will come up with the help line before the end of the year. I guess that gives them sufficient time for getting the necessary approvals, planning and designing the infrastructure, getting the cables laid out and also finding someone to handle it and training such a person and doing all the rest.

The biggest challenge however is going to be getting someone dedicated to this job. We have so many important adhoc matters that come up; that would demand deviation of attention of anybody who is employed in the government. And to get someone dedicated to the job, we might need to wait till the Civil Service is commissioned, which would take more than a year, I think.

Anyway, this will be a leap step forward; if it would materialize. Going by the pace and space of action on narcotics, prostituion and so on; it is unlikely that we will see much happening without continuous pressure on the government. It may be worthwhile for concerned citizens to write to their MPs, the Family Minister and the President to bring our concern to their attention.