A voluntary organisation "Women's Voice" was flagged off here on Sunday. On the occasion, a toll-free number 1800123500029 was also launched.
Founder of the organisation, Deepali Das, daughter of State's Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das, said that the organisation would focus on helping women counter torture and harassment, particularly those who didn't have access to legal and financial support.
While addressing the meeting, Das said there was still a large number of women who had no access to education and were more vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and poverty. That education empowers women is an indisputable fact; so Government and policy makers need to make education for women an important issue while women should consciously develop their skills and assist themselves in the men-dominated society, she added.
She further said that generally women in rural sectors do not express their problems freely. However, if they convey their difficulties through the toll free number , the organisation will come forward to solve the issues within 24 hours. In the days ahead, the organisation will collaborate with all active women self help groups in the district and help out women facing any problem, Deepali informed.
Sub Collector Siba Toppo said that starting an organisation like this was a commendable step.
On the occasion, Child Welfare Committee chairperson Anandini Padhi, Principal, Jharsuguda Women's College Balbinder Kaur, former District Bar Association president Raghumani Patel, Merchant Association president Hiralal Lokchandani, Senior Citizen's Association president Arjun Mor,BJD leaders Pintu Padhi and Sidharth Sarkar were also present, among others.