BANGALORE: Funds crunch has thrown a spanner in the functioning of Childline (1098), an emergency phone service for children in need of aid and assistance.

The three coordinating agencies of Childline, Association for Promoting Social Action (APSA), Bangalore Oniyavara Seva Coota (BOSCO), and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), have not received funds from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for two years.

The only time they received any grant was in the first six months of its functioning in the city. The Ministry grants Rs. 4 lakhs to non-governmental organisations involved in the project to meet all expenses, including salaries, transport and repatriation of the child.

Childline coordinating agencies in the city received a letter from the Ministry about a month ago stating that fresh grants have been sanctioned but they have not received it. "Officials at the Ministry keep stalling the release of funds. We are keeping our fingers crossed and hoping that it will work out this time," said P. Lakshapathy, Executive Director of APSA.

He said APSA is managing the emergency line by taking funds from its other projects. "But, I don't know how much longer we can run the show like this. The morale of our staff is low."

The shortage of funds means that APSA will be low on staff and has to make do with volunteers most of the time. "Nobody these days wants to work for Rs. 2,000 a month, especially if we cannot promise that we can pay the salary on the first of the month. Attrition level of volunteers is very high," says M.V. Shubanand, a counsellor at APSA. The coordinating agencies are finding it difficult to manage the transportation and medical costs involved in rescue and repatriation of the children. "Hospitals and the public comes forward to help the coordinating agencies when a child is sick but we often get five children with fever and cold. These small costs add up and are a drain on our resources," says George, project coordinator for BOSCO.

150 rescued

The two city organisations have rescued over 150 children of which 40 have been repatriated. This month APSA has rescued six children and provided shelter another six and BOSCO has rescued a child and provided shelter for seven. Childline coordinating agencies say they want a final word from the ministry on whether they are going to send them money quickly. Otherwise, they plan to look at other agencies for funds. "We want to end this confusion. If the Ministry does not want to support this project let them tell us and we will look elsewhere for funds," says Ms. Shubanand.

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