At a time when brutal violence against women is making headlines, an emergency helpline for women in the city remains either dysfunctional at the worst or staffed by men on better days.
When a civil society organisation decided to check on the toll free helpline, 1091, in Puducherry, they found the number to be dysfunctional. “We have tried the number several times and found that it rings and no one picks it up,” says Devanathan of civil society organisation, People’s Pulse. “Women will feel more comfortable reporting a crime to women police personnel. This number must be prominently displayed in the banners. The public relations officer’s number must also be displayed,” he says.
Calls to the women’s helpline reach the all women’s police station at Jawaharlal Nehru Street. A source at the police department said that the line was faulty for a few days and would be rectified soon.
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He confirmed a complaint about the helpline had reached the department. People’s Pulse had copied the Chief Secretary and the DGP on the complaint. People’s Pulse also points to banners put up by the Puducherry Police which while highlighting punishment for crimes against women, does not mention the helpline number.