Chennai: With only a little over a 1,000 callers using the 24-hour women’s helpline in a month and a majority of the calls usually blank ones, the 1091 venture does not seem to be fully utilized by citizens in the city.
Launched in 2004, the phone lines are manned by well-trained policewomen, who handle all calls with great caution and care. But the police women agree that while they get varied calls, the number of calls could improve.
“Most women continue to dial 100 indicating that citizens are unaware about the women’s helpline number,” said a senior police officer.
When questioned about the difference between the 100 and 1091, the senior police officer said that there was no particular difference, “If a caller rings up 100 or 1091, he or she will be given the same attention and the police will take action as soon as possible. However, if women become more aware that there is a separate helpline for them then maybe they would ring us directly,” said the officer.
According to the policewomen, most calls they receive are from women suffering from domestic violence or facing abuses from in-laws. “ We first try to talk to the person and calm them down in case they are tense, after that we put them in touch with a family counselor situated in the same building or we share the numbers of any NGO’s that they could contact,” said one of the police women who handle the phones.
When it comes to dowry cases though, the police put the caller in touch with their local police who immediately inspects the house.
“A few years ago when we received such calls we could take the husband into custody immediately. However, in view of many fake dowry cases, the police are now expected to contact a dowry prohibition officer and domestic protection officer. After a report is compiled after an enquiry then a case is directly filed in court by the officers, the complainant does not have to do anything alone,” said the officer.
Apart from calls from home, the helpline also assists those who are victims of eve teasing and promptly send the police when a complaint is received.
Citizens can also send a message if they are not comfortable talking to the number 950099100. Besides women, the helpline also gets calls from the elderly who are being harassed at home or lose their way somewhere in the city.
