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In a step towards ensuring the safety of women and children affected by violence, Punjab’s Social Security, Women, and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur on Thursday launched ‘Project Hifazat’ — an initiative aimed at providing immediate assistance to victims through an integrated 24x7 helpline and interdepartmental coordination.
Dr Baljit, addressing the launch event, urged the women across Punjab to save emergency helpline number ‘181’ in their mobile contacts for use in distress situations. “Project Hifazat will eliminate the fear that prevents women from reporting domestic violence, workplace harassment, or any other form of abuse. Our government is committed to creating a Punjab where women feel safe and empowered,” she said.
Under ‘Mission Shakti’ and ‘Mission Vatsalya’, the Women and Child Helpline (181) and Child Helpline (1098) will function round the clock, ensuring access to emergency and non-emergency services. Emergency cases will be directly transferred to the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112) for immediate intervention.
The Minister emphasized that Project Hifazat is designed to strengthen coordination between departments, including Punjab Police, the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development, and the Department of Health and Family Welfare. This collaboration will ensure timely rescue operations, legal aid, medical assistance, and psycho-social support for the victims.
The project will be implemented under the supervision of Deputy Commissioners, with District Program Officers (DPOs) overseeing execution. Dedicated rescue vehicles will be deployed in every district to respond to distress calls and provide on-ground support.
A state-of-the-art control room in Chandigarh will manage call traffic, disseminate information about government schemes, and generate reports for monitoring and evaluation.