Officials to shift helpline 181 to Women & Child Welfare dept
2 May 2014 5:34 AM IST
The free 24x7 helpline is a toll-free number to support women in distress and is accessible through mobile or landline. Any woman can access the 181 helpline for counselling, guidance, information and also for rescue from various threatening situations including domestic violence.
'As there is no CM office so an effective functioning of the helpline is not possible. We have planned to shift the entire functioning of the helpline to Women and Child Development department,' said a senior Delhi government official.
However, the helpline workers fear of repercussions in shifting the entire system. 'If anyone calls us, we respond to them as representatives of the chief minister’s office. The tag of the CM's office also helps people in resolving their problems as they feel confident while registering their complaints. The police can also take swift action. We are a bit sceptical about the shifting. We can’t assure the same response when we shift the office and bring it under Women and Child Development department,” said a senior official of the women in distress helpline on condition of anonymity.
Lewd calls to helpline executive
Many executives of the helpline have complained of receiving obscene calls. On 4 April,2014, the helpline received a total 864 calls in 12 hours, out of which 35 turned out to be objectionable, 721 were either blank or irrelevant, 33 cases were reported of domestic violence and five of sexual assault.
‘We have complained to the higher authorities about this. A legal action will be initiated soon to handle such callers,’ the official added.
The helpline was launched by former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who is now the Governor of Kerala, on the heels of the December 16, 2012 gangrape incident of a paramedic student in Delhi.
'As there is no CM office so an effective functioning of the helpline is not possible. We have planned to shift the entire functioning of the helpline to Women and Child Development department,' said a senior Delhi government official.
However, the helpline workers fear of repercussions in shifting the entire system. 'If anyone calls us, we respond to them as representatives of the chief minister’s office. The tag of the CM's office also helps people in resolving their problems as they feel confident while registering their complaints. The police can also take swift action. We are a bit sceptical about the shifting. We can’t assure the same response when we shift the office and bring it under Women and Child Development department,” said a senior official of the women in distress helpline on condition of anonymity.
Lewd calls to helpline executive
Many executives of the helpline have complained of receiving obscene calls. On 4 April,2014, the helpline received a total 864 calls in 12 hours, out of which 35 turned out to be objectionable, 721 were either blank or irrelevant, 33 cases were reported of domestic violence and five of sexual assault.
‘We have complained to the higher authorities about this. A legal action will be initiated soon to handle such callers,’ the official added.
The helpline was launched by former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who is now the Governor of Kerala, on the heels of the December 16, 2012 gangrape incident of a paramedic student in Delhi.
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