Panel suggests common helpline number

A parliamentary committee has suggested Union Home Ministry (MHA) integrate all helpline numbers of states with one single number for creating a three-digit common pan-India helpline number.

New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has been asked by a parliamentary committee to integrate all state helpline numbers and create a three-digit common pan-India number.

"MHA should advise all states and UTs to integrate their helpline numbers with 112 for creating a three-digit common Pan-India helpline number," the Parliamentary committee said.

The committee observes that a common national helpline number for women would provide a single platform for everyone who is in distress and can be accessed in every nook and corner of the country.

Earlier, the Home Ministry has operationalised the emergency response support system (ERSS) helpline number 112 in 30 states and UTs.

Interestingly, many of the states and UTs have operationalised their different helpline numbers for the safety and security of women and children.

The parliamentary committee headed by Congress MP Anand Sharma noted that multiple helpline numbers are used for different categories of complaints about crime against women and children which also vary from state to state.

The committee strongly recommends that there should be a single three-digit helpline number that can be uniformly accessed across all states and UTs.

"This will be beneficial to people who travel and commute from one state to another including the foreigners who visit different states during their stay in India," the committee said.

It further said that the helpline number may also be linked to other state-sponsored support services like shelters, one-stop centres, counselling, emergency transport assistance and other protection measures holistically.

The committee notes that states like Haryana has received more than 94000 calls in 2020 through 1091 and 24525 calls through 181. Haryana also has 1098 as a child helpline number.

Similarly, Uttar Pradesh has three such numbers including 112, 1090 and 181. The state has received 42,000 calls in 2020 through 1090.

States like Rajasthan has three helpline numbers including 100, 112 and 090. West Bengal has two helpline numbers 112 and 8017100100 (anti-stalking helpline number), established for city of Kolkata.

Maharashtra has 4 helpline numbers 103, 1090, 1091 and 1512. Tamil Nadu has three helpline numbers 100, 181 and 1091.

Ironically, when asked about the efficacy of helpline numbers in reducing crimes against women and children, the committee was informed by Action India (an NGO) that the helpline is not helpful, as they either take long to respond with no or less counselling facility.

"It is also observed that at times the help reaches late," the committee was told.

The committee was informed that the ministry of women and child development also operates child helpline number 1098 which is operational 24×7. It's an emergency phone outreach service for children in crisis that links them to the emergency well as long-term care and rehabilitation service.

The committee has also been informed that the women and child development ministry is also collaborating with the Ministry of Railways to rescue and rehabilitate children in difficult circumstances who come in contact with Railways by setting up a child help desk at Railway platforms.

The committee, however, recommends that MHA should conduct a nationwide study on call drops on these helpline numbers and steps taken to ensure follow up of these calls.

"All efforts should be made to ensure that response time for a distress call is minimal and help reaches in time to the victim, the committee said.