Assam govt launches 181-Sakhi helpline to provide emergency response to violence affected women

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has officially launched ‘181-Sakhi toll free women helpline’ in a programme held at the Conference Hall of Chief Minister’s office at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati.

It is to be mentioned that, over 10 rape incidents were happened in Assam in past a week.

On Thursday, a 6-year-old minor girl was raped by a youth at Khetri area in Kamrup (Metro) district.

Earlier, a minor girl was raped and murdered by three youths in central Assam’s Nagaon district, which triggered massive protests across the state.

Apart from the Nagaon incident, few more rape incidents were happened in Hailakandi, Barpeta, Jagiroad, Hojai, North Lakhimpur, Palashbari Juria, Tamulpur, Baksa area in past a week.

Several organisations have demanded the state government to take stern action against the rapist and to provide security to women, children.

181-Sakhi toll free women helpline is a scheme of universalization of women helpline and is launched under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India.

This service intends to provide 24 hours immediate and emergency response to women affected by violence. The service is presently being launched for one shift and will be open from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM and will be made available 24x7 shortly.

The service is integrated with Women Police Stations, State Commission for Women, Family Counselling Centres, NGOs, Legal Service Centres, Shelter Homes, Medical & Legal Experts. The helpline will assist women in terms of social welfare schemes, shelter, counselling, medical examination, filing FIR, legal aid, recording of audio and visual depositions and emergency response and rescue.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal expressed serious concern over recent spurt of crimes against women in the state and said that the state government is taking series of measures to stop such crimes and stringent action would be taken against the perpetrators of such crimes.

The Assam CM informed that police stations throughout the state have been alerted to keep close watch over such incidents.

“SPs of all the districts have been asked to ensure swift and correct filing of charge-sheet in all crimes against women so that justice can be given to the victims. Our Government has also written to the Gauhati High Court to set up Fast track Court to deal with crimes against women on a day to day basis,” Sonowal said adding that a women cell at DGP office to oversee speedy proceeding of all cases against women to be opened.

Underscoring the importance of joint initiative by the government and public to tackle crimes against women, Sonowal further said that DCs and SPs are directed to conduct intensive awareness campaigns so that people are made aware to prevent heinous crimes taking place against women in all corners of the state.

The Assam CM urged the women to make best use of the 181-Sakhi toll free women helpline. He also directed the government stakeholders to ensure immediate response to the calls of women in distress.

Assam DGP Mukesh Sahay said that, this system will help the women affected by violence. The state government is concerned over raising incidents of crimes against women and we will also take initiative to discuss various civil society organizations as not to happen such type of incident.

Chairperson of Assam State Women Commission Chikimiki Talukdar, Chairperson of Assam State Social Welfare Board Krishna Das Barman, DGP Mukesh Sahay, Additional Chief Secretary Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary Social Welfare Jishnu Baruah, Principal Secretary Home LS Changsan, Director of Social Welfare SS Meenakshi Sundaram were also present among others in the programme.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)