Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday inaugurated a new helpline '181' for women in distress. In an effort to tackle the concerns surrounding women’s safety, the Union Ministry of Women and Children's Development had decided to introduce its National women's emergency helpline in Tamil Nadu as well. The inauguration for the helpline’s call centre took place on Monday in Chennai.
In 2013, the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development had also introduced its women emergency helpline number after the Nirbhaya incident occurred in Delhi. In Tamil Nadu, the Department of Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme launched the helpline along with the state health department, District Legal Services Authorities and also the police department in order to carry out the functions of the helpline.
Women who face any kind of trouble in public places, their homes or workplace, can dial the number to get legal or police aid and medical services, said a statement issued by the Department of Information and Public Relations on Monday. The helpline has been launched at a budget of Rs 62.70 lakh.
The ‘181’ hotline will be staffed 24*7 to provide the necessary assistance and security to women. The contact centre for the helpline will be set up at the Amma centre in Ambattur.
A similar helpline already exists in a few other states including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, and New Delhi. On the occasion of the International women day on March 8, 2017, the UP government had launched the women helpline number '181' for the safety of women in the state and provide them with police, medical, legal and other facilities. The UP women helpline is said to have been working on the lines of the one in Gujarat where it is working efficiently.
As per several news reports, the UP women helpline also promised to provide temporary shelter to the women when needed, immediate help to the women during domestic violence and legal and other consultation.
Similarly in Tamil Nadu, in addition to asking for help during an emergency, the women's helpline can also be used to get information about their rights.
The facility, which was dubbed ‘Mitra 181’ in Kerala, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on March 27, 2017. The helpline was set up after several attacks against members of the transgender community and several women who face difficulties while travelling alone at night.
On Monday, the Tamil Nadu CM also distributed 8 grams of gold and Rs 50,000 each, to seven women, under the Thalikku Thangam scheme. He also gave Rs 50,000, each, to five trans-women encouraging them to start their own business.
