Women's helpline 181 to be functional in Kerala from March

Kerala government has decided to make women's helpline number 181 functional in the state by March, with the aim to unify the aid facilities for women. The number introduced by Union Ministry of Women and Child Welfare aims to ensure protection to women in distress. 
 

With the new facility, women's aid services available in the state will be brought under a single toll-free number. Kerala State Women's Development Corporation will run the facility, and in the case of emergency, one can make a call to this service from anywhere in India. 
 

With the introduction of 181, all other women's helpline numbers will be integrated with the service. Round the clock call centre will be set up along with a comprehensive referral database of different localities. 
 

The Centre introduced the service in 2014 and is currently available in Gujarat, New Delhi, Goa and Chhattisgarh. The service is accessible from both landline and mobile. The 24-hour facility aims to provide immediate and emergency assistance to women facing a threatening situation. Information about the nearest police station, ambulance service and the prominent hospital will be made available to the caller. 
 

However, there are allegations that the facility is useless and had been a disappointment in states where it was previously introduced. Delhi High Court described that the helpline is of no use as in most cases people in distress are not able to access them. The court made the statement after trying to get access to the number. Though lawyers tried to establish a connection with the number, but no one picked up the call. "The victim in need would die by the time they respond or reach them," the division bench said. 
 

The bench had also pulled Delhi government and Centre for its insensitivity in spreading awareness among the public about punishment and laws for offences against women and children. 
 

The system was widely considered as a failure as it was neither integrated with other emergency services nor an all-India system.