Lok Sabha Question No. 4912 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-31
Subject: Women Helpline Scheme
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Ganesan Selvam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 4912

TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.03.2023

## WOMEN HELPLINE SCHEME

## 4912.  SHRI SELVAM G.:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status of implementation of Women Helpline Scheme (WHS) in the country along with the challenges faced in its implementation;
- (b) whether the Government has achieved the aims and objectives for setting up the  women  helpline  in  the  country,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the corrective steps taken in this regard;
- (c) the number of women who have benefitted from WHS in the State of Tamil Nadu;
- (d) whether  Government  has  launched  any  awareness  programme  about  the implementation of the scheme and if so, the details and outcome thereof;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  periodic  assessment  of  the functioning of women helpline across the country and if so, the outcome thereof; and
- (f) the other steps taken by the Government to provide help to women affected by violence both in public and private spaces?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a)  to  (e):  The  Women  Helpline  aims  to  provide  24  hours  emergency  and  nonemergency response through telephonic short-code 181 to women, both in public and private spaces by linking them with appropriate authorities such as Police, One Stop Centres, Hospitals, Legal Services Authorities etc. Women Help Lines (WHL) also support women in distress with counseling services in addition to providing information about women welfare schemes and programs across the country. Presently, WHL is functional in 34 States/ UTs.

Further, Government has decided to integrate Women  Helpline (WHL-181) Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112) and their linkage with One Stop Centres for providing smooth and seamless helpline services to women.

Ministry of Women and Child Development monitors implementation of its schemes, including Women Helpline, through official visits from time to time, regular meetings, video conferences, workshops etc. with concerned authorities and functionaries of the scheme. State Government of Tamilnadu has reported that a total of 326250 number of women has been assisted by Women Helpline till 31.12.2022 in the State.

A  third  party  evaluation  of  the  schemes  of  the  Ministry,  including  analysis  of implementation the WHL Scheme was conducted during the Financial Year 2020-21 by  NITI  Aayog.  The  study  found  the  relevance,  efficiency  and  sustainability  of  the scheme as satisfactory. Based on the findings of the said study, the scheme has been included  as  a  component  of  sub-scheme  'Sambal'  under  Mission  Shakti  for implementation during 15th Finance Commission Cycle  upto 2025-26.

- (f): Several projects/ schemes are implemented by Central Government through other Ministries  /Departments  /Implementing  Agencies  under  Nirbhaya  Fund  to  ensure safety and security of women and girls, which include Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) which is a pan-India single number (112)/ mobile app based system for emergencies; a cyber-crime reporting portal to report obscene content; Safe City Projects  in  8  cities  (Ahmedabad,  Bengaluru,  Chennai,  Delhi,  Hyderabad,  Kolkata, Lucknow  and  Mumbai)  including  infrastructure,  technology  adoption  and  capacity building in community through awareness programmes; training and skill development programs  for  Investigation  Officers,  Prosecution  Officers  and  Medical  Officers; distribution  of  Sexual  Assault  Evidence  Collection  (SAEC)  Kits  to  States/  UTs; establishment of State of Art DNA Laboratory at CFSL, Chandigarh; assistance to 28 States/  UTs  to  strengthen  Forensic  Science  Laboratories;  setting  up  of  1023  Fast Track  Special  Courts  (FTSCs)  including  exclusive  POCSO  (e-POCSO)  Courts  for speedy  disposal  of  cases  of  rape  and  cases  under  POCSO  Act;  setting  up/ strengthening of Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) in all districts of the country; setting up/ strengthening of Women Help Desks (WHDs) at Police Stations etc. The Government has also put in place Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences, an online analytic tool for tracking and monitoring of investigation. A National Database of Sexual Offenders (NDSO) has also been created.

Under Nirbhaya Fund, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) has also undertaken  several initiatives, which, inter-alia include training and  skill development programs for Investigation Officers, Prosecution Officers and Medical Officers,  distribution  of  Sexual  Assault  Evidence  Collection  (SAEC)  Kits  to  States/ UTs. BPR&D has also prepared Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for 'Women Help Desk at Police Stations' to ensure smooth functioning of Women Help Desks by focusing  on  four  critical  components  viz.  infrastructure,  training,  human  resource development and response mechanism. A book titled 'Women's Safety and Securitya  Handbook  for  First  Responders  and  Investigators  in  the  Police'  has  also  been prepared for the purpose of prevention and investigation of crime against women with specific reference to the crime of sexual assault, which includes investigation, victim compensation and rehabilitation. Emphasis has been laid upon appropriate behavioural and attitudinal skills of the police in course of prevention and detection of crime against women and children and interaction with victims of crime. Webinars on women safety with sensitivity, gender sensitization of police personnel etc. have also been organized by BPR&D.

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