Bhubaneswar, March 8: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today unveiled a gift for women across the state - a 24x7 helpline number 181 that will provide an integrated range of services to them.
The toll-free service, which was launched on the occasion of International Women's Day, will be available across the state. It will provide a wide range of services, including information on medical aid, police assistance, legal counselling and court case management, psychosocial counselling and temporary shelter to affected women.
"Women are victims of a number of issues such as blind belief, discrimination and disease. The government is dedicated to overcoming such concerns and build a conducive environment for women," said Naveen.
Women facing physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and economic abuse will be connected to the required agency for support. The women and child development department has launched the service. Minister Usha Devi said: "The number will facilitate emergency and non-emergency access to a range of services."
The helpline will assist women to lodge FIRs by providing linkages to police officers. Using the service, they will also be able to get information on various government schemes and programmes.
The State Commission For Women had launched a women's helpline number - 10920 - in August 2012. Police had launched a similar service, 1091. However, both the numbers remain out of service most of the time. "I hope that this one will not stop after a few days. It would not be successful until services are delivered in a sustained manner," said social worker Lipsa Priyadarshini.
Apart from the helpline, the state saw a slew of workshops, seminars and street plays on gender equality and to celebrate the contribution of women in society.
Two youngsters, Jhilli Dalabehera and Jabamani Tudu, were honoured for their achievements in weightlifting and football, respectively. A seminar on women entrepreneurs was held on the sidelines of Odisha MSME Trade Fair, where 350 women from across Odisha took part. Personalities from diverse fields discused problems and scope of women entrepreneurs.
At a women leaders' convention hosted by the National Alliance of Women, Odisha Chapter, governor S.C. Jamir said: "Our development indices need improvement. We must realise that the responsibility of making every woman unique and special is not only that of the government, but all citizens."
While the state was busy celebrating the power of women, reports of a distressing incident from Balangir district emerged where villagers chopped off the hair of a girl and forced her around the village wearing a garland of chappals for allegedly stealing a mobile phone.
The incident took place on March 6 and the girl's parents have lodged a complaint at the local police station. "It is a painful incident and we have begun a probe," said Balangir sub-divisional police officer Saroj Mahapatra.
