Lok Sabha Question No. 897 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Women Helpline Scheme
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Omprakash Bhupalsinh Alias Pavan Rajenimbalkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 897

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2024

## WOMEN HELPLINE SCHEME

## 897.    SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAVAN RAJENIMBALKAR:

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

- (a) the details  of  the  implementation of Women Helpline Scheme (WHS) in the country;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  achieved  the  targets  and  goals  set  for  these helplines,  if  so,  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  corrective  steps  taken  in  this regard;
- (c) the challenges faced by the Government at the time of implementing the WHS;
- (d) whether the Government has started any awareness campaign for WHS and if so, the details and outcome thereof;
- (e) the number of cases received on Women Helplines during each of the last three years and the current year in Maharashtra and the number of women benefited therefrom; and
- (f)      whether the Government has conducted any periodic assessment with regard to the working of Women Helpline in the country and if so, the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

- (a) to (c) : The Ministry of Women and Child Development has been implementing the scheme  of  Women  Helpline  (WHL)  since  01.04.2015.  WHL  has  now  become  a component of Sambal sub-scheme under Mission Shakti w.e.f 01.04.2022 which aims to provide 24X7 emergency and non-emergency response through telephonic shortcode 181 to women, both in public and private spaces by integrating it with Emergency Response Support System ERSS-112, One Stop Centres, Child Helpline 1098 etc. Presently, WHL is functional in 35 States/ UTs (Except West Bengal). Through WHL, 76,02,460 women have been assisted till 31/5/2024 across the country.
- (d) As per Mission Shakti Guidelines, the overall implementation of the Scheme at State/UT level is being done by the Department of Women and Child Development/ Social Welfare Department of concerned States/ UTs.
- (e)   As  reported  by  the  State  Government  of  Maharashtra,  the  details  of  calls registered/received and women assisted during each of the last three years and the current year in Maharashtra are as under:

| 2021-22                   | 2022-23                                  | 2022-23        | 2022-23                   | 2023-24                   | 2023-24        | 2024-25 (Up to 31 st May 2024)   | 2024-25 (Up to 31 st May 2024)   |
|---------------------------|------------------------------------------|----------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|----------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| Call registered/ Received | Women assisted Call registered/ Received | Women assisted | Call registered/ Received | Call registered/ Received | Women assisted | Call registered/ Received        | Women assisted                   |
| 5,742                     | 5,742 3,785                              | 3,785          | 1,42,280                  | 1,42,280                  | 4,682          | 58,099                           | 655                              |

(f) A  third  party  evaluation  of  the  schemes  of  the  Ministry,  including  Women Helpline (WHL) Scheme, was conducted during the Financial Year 2020-21 through NITI Aayog. The study found the relevance, effectiveness and sustainability of the scheme as satisfactory.

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