Within hours of announcing ‘167’ as women helpline number, the Telecom Ministry on Monday changed it to ‘181’ saying the new three-digit number was easier to remember.
Amidst nationwide uproar over brutal gang-rape of a 23-year old paramedic student, the Telecom Ministry for the first time in two years released a three-digit number, 167, for women helpline.
However, “upon request for a number that would be easier to recollect”, the number has been changed to ‘181’, a statement from the Department of Telecom said.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had requested Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal to allot a three-digit phone number for helping women in distress.
“Though DoT has limited resource in respect of three-digit numbers, yet within two hours of the request, a three-digit number has been allotted for Chief Minister’s helpline,” the statement said.
This is the first three-digit number to have been allotted in two years.
Protests across the country are being seen demanding speedy justice to the accused in the Delhi gangrape case, where a 23-year-old para-medical student from Dehradun was alleged raped on Sunday night in a moving bus here.
Keywords: gang rape, gang rape protests, protest rally, Sheila Dikshit, Kapil Sibal, three-digit number, DoT, Women helpline
Who ever said 181 would be an easier no. to remember? or 167 or any 3
digit no? Easier to remember for whom? For the person who decided that
this no. is easy to remember or the girl in distress. We have 100,
101, 103 ?, and there is 108, 1091, 1092. The general public remembers
100, 101, 108, because we use them often either for us or for others.
But do I remember what is 1091 or 1092 like a 100. I don't. There are
helplines for various types of emergencies. But in most cases you have
the time to think for a second whether you need to call 101 or 108 for
your need or there may be many other people, depending on the
emergency, say for eg. in case of an accident there may be 10 other
people who would remember 108 if not you. But in case of a sexual
assault, you are not going to memorize a no. and say when such a
situation arises I'll dial 167 or 161 or 181, oh i don't remember.
Type RAPE on your cell phone, it gives you 7273. Better no.!! when
said in Hindi also means Help - "Saat Do"
who has time to call the helpline number in emergency? Like the girl
was raped? You think the assaulter would give enough time to her to
call a number? What are the security measures? These are just another appeasing
measures and nothing substantial would happen.
I have myself faced a situation where I called 100 and police took
more than 1.45 hours to come !
To everyone who is reading this - If you have a mother or a sister at your home, and you love and care for them - do not vote this government ever again. This government is like termites - you will be eaten up enough to stand on your legs and you will know this only when its too late.
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