Haryana CM approves women helpline scheme

The Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal on Wednesday approved the implementation of universalisation of women helpline scheme to provide 24 hours emergency response to the women in distress facing violence or threat of violence, both in private and public spaces, including in the family, community and workplace.

Haryana Women and Child Development Minister, Kavita Jain said that this Centrally sponsored scheme would be funded under Nirbhaya Fund  and both the Central and State Governments would share  the expenditure in the ratio of 75:25.The Minister said that the women helpline will provide 24 hour emergency response to all women affected by violence both in public and private sphere. All the existing emergency services such as police number 100, fire brigade no.101, women helpline no.1091, hospital and ambulance no.102, emergency response services no.108, NAlSA helpline for free legal service no.15100 and child helpline no.1098 will be integrated with it.

The women helpline would function across the country by developing linkages with existing helplines that is no. 181 and no.1091 allocated by the Department of Telecommunication to all states and union territories. It will act as a centralized service within the entire state which will cater to the needs of women in distress residing in villages, block and town of different districts.

The scheme of universalization of women helpline has been exclusively designed to support women  who are victims of physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and economic abuse, and irrespective of age, class, caste, education status, marital status, race, culture and geography, will be provided support. Also, woman facing any kind of violence due to attempted honour related crimes, acid attacks, with hunting, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse, trafficking will also be provided with immediate and emergency services. There will be no discrimination of any kind which affects the treatment of the aggrieved, said Jain.

She said that women’s helpline will be accessible through a single universal toll-free number across the country. A woman in distress or in difficult circumstances or somebody on her behalf will be able to call this toll-free number and will reach the responder appointed there.Based on the urgency and the requirement explained by the woman, the responder will refer her to relevant support service like medical aid, police assistance or connect her to One Stop Centre for professional counseling, shelter and legal aid, if woman needs to be rescued or is in urgent need of medical assistance then the Police Control Room (PCR) van from the nearest police station or ambulance from nearest hospital or 108 service or One Stop Centre whichever is close would be dispatched.

The Minister said that the Secretary, Women and Child Development Department will be responsible for overall direction and implementation of the scheme in the state. There will be a State Steering and Monitoring Committee under the chairmanship of Principal  Secretary, Women and Child Development Department with representatives from other departments.