Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the International Women’s Day on Wednesday launched a dedicated toll-free helpline number ‘181’ to provide immediate assistance to women in need in the State.
Women, when they need, can call in with complaints of outrage or violence meted out to them or any type of atrocities they face, and the same could be acted upon without delay.
The 181 helpline service can be assessed 24X7 in all the districts. The CM hoped that the facility would help women to a great extent.
The facility was launched at the State-level programme organised by the Women and Child Development Department here.
“It is a day to reassure our commitment for empowerment of women and recognising their increasing role in various fields of life. I congratulate women and call upon them to exercise their rights,” said Patnaik. “The Government has taken several measures for uplift of women including the Kanya Ratna Yojana, and a new helpline number has been launched today. The helpline number will assist women in getting immediate assistance in any emergency situations,” said Women and Child Development Minister Usha Debi.
It may be noted that the State has been witnessing increasing number of crimes against women with snatching incidents being one of them. Some of these incidents have been taking place even on busy thoroughfares even in the capital city of Bhubaneswar in board daylight and in full public glare.