New Delhi: More than 2.47 lakh phone calls were received by the government’s women helpline from April to June last year when the country was under lockdown due to the Covid pandemic, the Women and Child Development Ministry has said.
In a written response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said the scheme of ‘Universalisation of Women Helpline (WHL)’ through toll free number 181 is operational in 33 states and Union Territories.
From 25 March, 2020, till 31 May, 2020, the country was under complete lockdown due to pandemic, and the unlock procedure was started from June 2020.
“As per the information received from states/UTs, during the period between April 2020 to June 2020, over 2.47 lakh calls were registered in WHLs,” she said.
The helpline aims to provide emergency and non-emergency referral and information service to women affected by violence and in distress.