New helpline to counter crimes against women

Kolkata: The state govt is soon launching a dedicated 24-hour helpline number for women - 181 - which will be geo-tagged with the help desk at the nearest police station as the police will immediately get alert on exactly from where a woman is calling for help so that officers could rush to the spot at the earliest.Highlighting that the state previously lacked such a centralised system, minister for women & child development and social welfare Agnimitra Paul announced that the helpline will utilise advanced geo-tagging technology to ensure rapid emergency response. "Until now, there was no women helpline number. Very soon, we are going to start a women helpline number - 181. If you call this number, immediately through geo-tagging your exact location and spot as to where you are, where you have fallen into trouble will immediately go to the nearest police station," said Paul in a video message posted in social media. Paul said that there will be a women helpdesk in each police station across the state. "Whichever police station you are closest to, the information will reach that police station through geo-tagging," the minister added. To ensure seamless coordination, the govt is setting up dedicated women helpdesks across all police stations to handle these alerts in real time. Paul also assured that women in Bengal will now have absolute freedom over their attire, choices and movement without any fear. "I want to say to all the mothers and sisters of West Bengal, they can go out whenever they want, they can wear whatever clothes they feel like wearing, they can eat whatever food they feel like eating. No one will tell you what you have to wear, what you have to eat, and when it is appropriate to go out and when not. We will not question why women are out after 8 pm," Paul said.After taking charge as minister of women & child development, Paul announced that each sub division area in the state will have at least one women police station with stress on ensuring safety and security of women, which was one of the top most priority of the state govt. "It will be ensured that no one can look at all mothers and sisters with an evil eye. The safety and dignity of women is our top most priority. There will be no cover-up of any incident involving misconduct on women," Paul said.