Women helpline gets 66 calls till April 10, reveals data

CHANDIGARH: A 24x7 women helpline accessible on 181 is now getting phone calls from senior citizens and differently-abled persons as well. As per the available data, since the inception of the women and child helpline number 181 in 2015, a total of 47,900 calls have been received at the helpline from the city till April 10.
During these years, as many as 1,710 cases were dealt by the helpline officials. Out of them, 911 cases were related to women, 664 cases were of children and 94 cases were of senior citizens and 41 cases were related to differently-abled persons.
The data shows that 3,440 people reached out to the office of women and child helpline during this time period. The officials of the helpline counselled the people. However, the officials had made 7,657 follow up calls to the complainants and callers at helpline numbers. Women and child helpline team also made 3,940 field visits from 2015 to 2019.
Importantly, with the intervention of the helpline team 407 Daily Diary Reports (DDR) and 96 FIRs related to women and children got registered in city police stations. The team also referred 222 cases to the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) and 360 cases were referred to one-stop centre for women.
During this period, helpline also provided shelters to 296 children who were found abandoned or begging in city roads. Over 88 destitute women were admitted to different shelter homes in city.
Out of 911 cases reported at the helpline, 293 cases were related to marital dispute and 123 cases were reported by the women of domestic violence at helpline. As many as 93 cases related to harassment at workplace and residence reported by city women at helpline number.
Though, out of total 664 incidents reported at the helpline regarding children, 102 cases were of molestation and rapes.
The data also reveals that 94 senior citizens of city also approached the women’s helpline number and 42 of them reported that they were harassed. Over 12 senior citizens gave complaints regarding property dispute.
Women Helpline (WHL) is connected with one-stop centre (OSC), which is established in every state and UT to provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence, both in private and public spaces under one roof. Under OSC women have been provided shelter, medical facilities, legal aid and police assistance at one centre.
To provide round-the-clock immediate help to women in case of any emergency, the central government had launched a scheme of universalization of women helpline number 181 in July 2015. The motive behind this helpline was initially to provide immediate and emergency response to women affected by violence by linking with appropriate authority such as police, one stop centre, hospital and information about women related government schemes across the country.