Team Herald

PANJIM: Department of Women and Child Development, in association with GVK EMRI, has launched 181 helpline to help women in distress. The universal free 24×7 helpline, 181, is a toll-free number to support women in need of counselling, guidance, information and also for rescue in various threatening situations, including domestic violence. Two vehicles one each for the North and South districts were also launched, which will have a rescue team along with counsellors.

Health Minister Vishwajit Rane launched the helpline at a function held to mark the completion of 10 years of 108 ambulance services. The minister said that a women rescue team will be deployed to make available access of crisis counselling, emotional support and guidance through direct and indirect intervention. The helpline number will work in coordination with ambulance (108) and police (100). 

Prof Shaila D’Souza, Head of Department of Women’s Studies in the Goa University, hoped that Goa attains zero cases of violence against women. With youth related problems increasing, the helpline is expected to help such people tackle the situation. 

On the 108 ambulance service, the Goa government has extended its contract with the GVK-EMRI for another 10 years by way of signing the memorandum of understanding. “With the mission of saving lives, 108 ambulance service was started in 2008. The service will continue to save thousands of the lives of the people of the State,” he said.