PANJIM: The State government on Monday launched a WhatsApp Women Helpline number to report cases of rape, sexual assault, eve teasing and domestic violence. Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said the helpline number 7875756177 can be used by women tourists besides those living in Goa.
“Every girl/woman and even Indian or foreign tourists can save this number. We have to zero the number of crimes against women. At no cost, we will let the criminal go scot free,” he said after launching the helpline number at police headquarters, on Monday.
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The Chief Minister has urged media, government departments, angandwadis, women and child commissions, and educational institutes to make the WhatsApp helpline number known. Let the awareness be created across all public places as well.
The department in a press statement said the number will be functional round-the-clock at State Police Control Room to redress grievances of women in distress.
“As an additional measure of safety for women in distress an exclusive WhatsApp helpline number 7875756177 is launched. The women in distress will be able to send WhatsApp messages and images/videos on this number,” it added.
It said the objectives of this initiative available on android phones are to provide 24 hours WhatsApp facility to women affected by violence seeking support and information, to facilitate immediate response/intervention of police and to provide information to queries of the woman depending on her particular situation.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that Goa Police will soon get a new headquarter with good infrastructure. He also added that vacancies in the department besides Home Guards will be filled soon.
Applauding the efforts of the police for recording good detection rate, Sawant also said that in a first Anti-Narcotics Cell has seized drugs worth Rs 3 crore within a span of 16 months. “Goa Police is doing a good job right from the rank of constable to DGP,” he said adding that government has no tolerance of crime and drug menace.
