Launch of Delhi government's helpline for women delayed

New Delhi: The Delhi government's round-the-clock helpline '181' for helping women in distress has hit some last-minute glitches. The helpline number is now expected to be launched in the evening today.

The number '181' can be dialled from landline and mobile phones.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had announced the setting up of this helpline last week following widespread protests in the city in the wake of the brutal gang-rape of 23-year-old medical student 'Amanat '(NOT her real name). After battling for her life for 13 days, the girl died in a Singapore hospital on Saturday.

The helpline will operate from the Chief Minister's office in Delhi Secretariat and will be connected with all the 185 police stations across the city.

Mrs Dikshit had requested Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal to allot a three-digit helpline number for helping women. The Ministry had earlier allotted '167' as the helpline but following a request for a number that would be easier to recollect, it was changed to '181'.

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

(With inputs from agencies)

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