Women's helpline 181 temporarily closed

MANGALURU: ' Madam, I need a caller tune; how can I get refund for currency deduction?' This was one of the reasons why Women's Helpline 181 in Dakshina Kannada was temporarily shut down a few days ago after it repeatedly started getting calls from BSNL network users about their grievances.

Due to a technica l glitch, 181, which was set up to help women in crisis in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts by the women and child welfare development department, started receiving complaint calls from BSNL customers.

It got over 25 such calls per day while genuine ones were very few. The helpline has been temporarily shut down and engineers are working to fix the glitch.

Gracy Gonsalves, deputy director, women and child welfare development, Udupi, said the helpline will resume its services soon. It'll be centralised and function from Bengaluru. Calls will be diverted to respective districts from the centre.

"Over the past six months, the helpline started getting calls from BSNL customers. It took a toll on our staff who had to convince callers that it was not customer care but a women's helpline. The issue was brought to the notice of the authorities concerned but when they failed to respond positively, the helpline was closed down temporarily," said a person associated with the helpline.

In July, helpline officials raised the issue with minister for women and child development Jayamala during the zilla panchayat meeting in Mangaluru. The helpline centres function round the clock at hospitals in Udupi and Mangaluru. Each centre has a counsellor and three social service workers, among others. Women call the number for help and get details about government schemes.