The Delhi Government’s helpline 181, which was set up for women in distress, is now getting calls regarding upcoming Assembly polls. A large number of women have been calling 181 helpline to enquire whether they should vote for BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi or AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, as both had been disciples of social activist Anna Hazare during his India Against Corruption campaign.
The helpline, set up for women in distress after the Nirbhaya incident, has been receiving about 100 poll-related calls every day for the past two weeks. The helpline has a data of about eight lakh people who had been in touch with it.
Confirming that 181 had been receiving poll-related calls, helpline head Khadijah Faruqui said standing instructions have been given to the staff members not to talk about any particular party or candidate with any such caller.
Faruqui said she the helpline held a workshop of its employees to ensure that poll-related calls were also attended to properly. “We have been telling such callers that they should choose the best candidate. We also guide the callers about the election norms and their voting rights. We have also been talking about the Model Code of Conduct.”
A helpline employee said there were many callers who were confused as to whom they should vote in their respective constituencies. “Some callers wanted to know whether to vote for Bedi or Kejriwal as they had seen them together fighting against corruption during the Anna movement. Now both are contesting against each other. That’s why they are confused.”
Another employee, on condition of anonymity said, that one such caller even suggested that both Bedi and Kejriwal should fight together against corruption. She replied: “I told the caller we cannot comment on either any party or candidate. But I suggested her she should definitely exercise her franchise.”
Some callers have even expressed their apprehension whether the new Government would continue to run the helpline. “Many want to know the political parties’ stand on 181-helpline. One woman wanted to know whether any party had even mentioned about 181 in their manifesto.”