Tamil Nadu launches toll-free helpline ‘181’ for domestic violence victims

The Tamil Nadu government on December 9, 2018 launched a 24-hour toll-free helpline ‘181’ for women facing domestic violence and sexual harassment. The initiative was launched by the state’s Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

Key Highlights

• The move will enable women facing domestic violence and sexual harassment at home or workplaces to contact the toll-free helpline to get emergency assistance such as police help, legal aid or medical services including an ambulance.

• The helpline initiative has been developed at a cost of Rs 62.70 lakh.

• The service will be available for 24 hours on all days of the week.

• Besides providing government aid to victims of domestic violence, the helpline would assist women in getting information on welfare schemes aimed at their benefit.

Other Details

• On the occasion, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also gave away gold and cash to seven beneficiaries of a government scheme aimed at women.

• The scheme called 'gold for mangalsutra' scheme is a flagship initiative of the ruling Tamil Nadu government.

• It aims to provide an allowance of eight grams of gold and cash assistance to women from economically backward families for their marriage.

• The state has allotted amount worth Rs 724 crore for the scheme for the year 2018-19.

• The scheme is aimed at benefitting around 1.11 lakh beneficiaries.

Besides this, the Chief Minister launched many other initiatives through video conferencing. He laid the foundation stone for various projects to be implemented at an estimated sum of Rs 96 crore in various parts of the state by the Public Works Department (PWD). He also inaugurated projects worth Rs 34 crore.

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