Govt launches ‘181’ women helpline number for all States

, Jan 21: A month after releasing a three-digit emergency number for

in Delhi, the Government today said it will make available the '181' women's helpline number to all states in the country.

"We will give a single emergency number 181 to women across the country," Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal told presspersons here.

According to sources, Sibal is expected to write to all Chief Ministers about the Ministry's decision to allocate the three-digit number 181 to all states so that it can be made a national helpline for women.

After allocation of the emergency number, the State Governments would be required to set up their call centres.

"The Telecom Department will make available the number to all States, which are than required to set up call centres so that the number becomes operational across the country," sources added.

Amidst a nationwide uproar over the brutal gangrape of a 23-year-old paramedic student in the national Capital, the Telecom Ministry in Dec released a three-digit women's helpline number, 167, in Delhi.

The number, however, was changed to '181' as the Ministry felt it would be easier to recollect.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had requested that a three-digit phone number be allotted for helping women in distress.

This was the first three-digit number to have been allotted in two years by the Ministry.

PTI