A 23-year-old female operator at the Delhi Government’s woman helpline (181), which was set up by Sheila Dikhsit, has attempted suicide by popping sleeping pills at her home in Central Delhi. She has lodged a written complaint against the helpline coordinator, who is also a female, for harassing her during work. The women’s helpline was started in 2013, which is housed on the third floor in Delhi Secretariat.
The woman identified as Anam has lodged a written complaint with the IP Estate police station against the coordinator, Khadija Farooqui, stating that she was being harassed by her coordinator for the past several months. In her complaints she said that Farooqui used to scold her very often accusing her for discrepancy in attending the phone calls.
The incident reported on Wednesday night when police received a phone call from lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (lNJP) Hospital. Police found Anam, who is a resident of Aruna Asaf Ali Road, had consumed an overdose of sleeping pills in her home. After she complained of uneasiness her family members took her to the hospital.
A family member told police that Anam was mentally harassed by Farooqui during work. On Wednesday, she was upbraided by Farooqui for no reason. She came home in the evening and popped nine sleeping pills. “Her condition is stated to be out danger,” said a police officer. Anam has been working as an operator in the helpline since two years. Police said that they have received a written complaint and started a probe.