Fact check: Child helpline 1098 does not collect leftover food, viral message is fake

New Delhi (Vishvas News): Vishvas News came across a message being circulated in Marathi, which claimed that Prime Minister Modi has declared that if one is hosting a party and there is leftover food, people can call on 1098 in India which is a child helpline number. They visit home and collect all the leftover food. Vishvas News in its investigation found the claim to be fake. 1098 child helpline do not collect leftover food.

Claim:
Facebook user Nilesh Jain NZ shared the screenshot of the viral message on his profile on 15 December, with the claim in Marathi and asked others to share the post as much as possible.

Check the post and its archive version here.

Investigation:

Vishvas News started its investigation by just a simple keyword search.

We came across an article on Business Standard published on July 16, 2018.

The article was titled, ‘Childline issues clarification after receiving calls for collecting leftover food‘

“We understand there is a chain mail circulating that says – one should call up 1098 to pick up left over food after a party etc so that it is not wasted. This is not true. We are India’s only and most widespread Children’s phone emergency outreach service (1098) for children in need of care and protection,” the message on the website said. The article noted.

Through ‘Advance Search’ on Twitter, we also found a tweet by ‘CHILDLINE’ on their account @CHILDLINE1098. The tweet was made on 17 March, 2010.

RT Beware of a False Chain Mail says to call 1098 to dispose of leftover food. Our lines jam coz of this and children can't get through us.

— CHILDLINE (@CHILDLINE1098) March 17, 2010

In the next step of investigation we contacted the organisation through email given on their website.

Vikas Puthran, Head Resource Mobilization and Communications, Childline India Foundation said, “This is a fake message being circulated. This is not true. CHILDLINE 1098 is a free emergency helpline for children in distress. We rescue children or provide them assistance like protection from abuse, lost or runaway children or any other child related issue. We don’t collect leftover food and distribute it.“

In the last step of investigation, Vishvas News did a social background check of the profile that had shared the viral message. Nilesh Jain NZ is being followed by 70 people.

Conclusion: Vishvas News in its investigation found that Child helpline 1098 does not collect leftover food, viral message is fake.

Tags

• 1098
• Child Helpline
• Fact Check
• Food Wastage
• Leftover food