The number of calls received by women’s helpline number 181 has gone down by nearly 30 per cent, but surprisingly cases of crime against women in the Capital have reported an increase in the last year. Recent data released by Delhi Police revealed that a total of 1,805 and 1,856 cases of rape were reported in the Capital in 2014 and 2015 (so far), respectively. Similarly, the police reported 3,678 and 4,626 cases of molestation during the two years. But data from the women’s helpline under the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) shows it received 5,76,695 calls till November 2014 and this number went down to 3,90,713 this year (till November 16).
The number of calls received in 2015 in November so far has drastically dropped as compared to last year. The helpline was launched after a 23-year-old physiotherapist was brutally gang-raped and murdered in a moving bus in Delhi on December 16, 2012. On average the number receives 2,000 calls per day, of which 500 cases are serious and need immediate attention.
According to sources, the helpline which was launched in 2013 with much enthusiasm is losing its sheen. “There is no interest from the authorities. The number of calls going down is itself speaking about the downfall of this helpline. People are not even aware of this number,” a senior government official said. The helpline number, which was working with 20 people, is now left with 17 as three people resigned a few days ago. The helpline number has received over one lakh irrelevant calls in between January and November 2015. As many as 1,04,493 calls were blank and irrelevant, as per data.
