Smriti launches 24/7 helpline for women affected by violence

NEW Delhi, Jul 27
For the safety and security of women across the Nation and in line with the Union Government’s efforts towards overall betterment of women, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani today inaugurated the National Commission for Women’s 24/7 helpline - 7827170170.
The helpline aims to provide 24/7 online support to women affected by violence through referral by linking them with appropriate authorities such as police, hospitals, District Legal Service Authority, psychological services etc, said  a statement of PIB.
Inaugurating the helpline virtually, Irani congratulated the NCW for this initiative and said that this digital helpline gives a message to women that whenever they are in need, their Government and their Commission will stand by them.
She also congratulated the entire NCW team for the “stupendous” efforts for helping women especially during the pandemic.
She said that the partnership between NCW and WCD goes a long way in ensuring a seamless intervention to help women in distress.
On the occasion, NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma said that the helpline will strengthen the Commission existing complaint mechanism, apart from enabling women in need of support and counselling to get help in time.
"We are always inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is tirelessly working for the betterment of women. From women empowerment to women-led empowerment, we have seen many changes in his able leadership which inspires us to do better," she added.
The objective of the helpline is to provide 24-hour complaints and counseling services to women affected by violence by linking them with appropriate authorities such as police, hospitals, District Legal Service Authority psychological services and providing information about women related Government programmes across the country through a single uniform number, it said and added that the helpline will be operated by  a team of trained experts.
Any girl or woman aged 18 years and above can seek help by calling on this helpline which will be operated from the premises of the National Commission for Women, New Delhi.
This helpline service was developed in collaboration with Digital India Corporation, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
NCW accords utmost priority to the safety of women. Keeping in line with its initiatives for aggrieved women, the Commission has started this new helpline to facilitate integrated range of services for women affected by violence under one roof such as help from police, psycho-social counselling and access to One Stop Centres among other services.