The national toll-free emergency number 1098 is for children who need any kind of assistance, care or protection. He claimed that the functioning of the 1098 helpline has become “efficient and lean” since the state took over the call centre. Some of them were transferred to the Child Helpline for a monthly salary of Rs 18,000. this person said,Another Mumbai-based staffer told Scroll that earlier, they could book a cab and rush to the spot. Child Helpline staff members are also given other work under the Women and Child Development department.