A woman helpline number was launched here for 35 districts of Bihar.

Facilitate victims to directly contact protection officers of Women Development Corporation (WDC), Bihar. 

Women Development Corporation, Bihar
(Social Welfare Department, Govt. of Bihar)

2nd Floor, Indira Bhawan, R.C.Singh Path,
Bailey Road, Patna-800 001(Bihar)
Ph. No. : 0612-2534096, 2520695, 2537843
Fax No. : 0612-2520965

The move comes in the wake of recent reports of increase in crime against women across the country.

The helpline number for Patna is 9771468024. For other districts too, the first eight digits would be the same, only the last two digits would change. They range from 01 (Araria) to 35 (Vaishali), according to the alphabetical order of each district.

Social welfare department minister Parveen Amanullah on Friday released the Core User Group (CUG) mobile numbers (serial wise) for the helpline, on which complaints can be registered 24X7. These mobile phones would be with programme officers. "It will now be easy for a victim woman to reach the protection officer," she said, adding that WDC was also trying to avail a four-digit toll-free number that would be much easier to remember and women can call on that number from anywhere in Bihar.

She was inaugurating the daylong workshop on formulating a "Standard Operating Procedure" (SOP) for Domestic Violence Act - 2005 organized by the WDC, Bihar.

A "State Policy for Women Empowerment" (SPWE) is also being formulated. "We will hold workshops across the state and discussions with NGOs and try to incorporate suggestions from stakeholders in the draft SPWE policy," she said, adding that the SPWE would emphasize on curbing domestic violence against women.

Referring to the Nirbhaya gang rape in Delhi, Amanullah said it was unfortunate that many such incidents reported in Bihar were still pending and victims were awaiting justice. "The SPs of all districts have been directed to clear the cases regarding violence against women on a priority basis," said the minister.

At present, there are 35 women helpline and 21 short-stay homes in Bihar under the Mukhya Mantri Nari Shakti Yojna. "An SOP will help the programme officers to work according to a set standard of guidelines. It will facilitate the execution of their work in a better manner," said Amanullah.

"Advertisements would be inserted in newspapers on a weekly basis to inform women about this helpline," said managing director, WDC, Imamuddin Ahmad, adding, "We will also hold workshops in different districts in this regard, starting with Patna."

Earlier, Madhuri Das of DFID ( Department for International Development) explained that several training programmes were going on for over a year with police, judiciary and others for the purpose of making all facilities woman-friendly.

On a different note, one programme officer from Nalanda took the opportunity to put her grievance before the minister, saying their contractual job should be made permanent and they should be given proper salaries instead of honorarium.