Title - Delhi gang rape case: Bihar to set up dedicated helpline to serve women in distress

PATNA: In the backdrop of the Delhi gangrape incident, Bihar government is setting up a dedicated helpline to serve women in distress.With an aim to ensure quick response, the Social Welfare Department has set up women helpline in 35 districts of the state which would be functional round-the-clock.The Social Welfare department is working on a toll-free number to help affected women.The In-charge of women helpline in Patna, Pramila Kumari told PTI that earlier complaints regarding domestic violence used to come on the helpline but after the Delhi gangrape incident and widespread media publicity to it, complaints of harassment of women has increased.She said the courageous protests of people against the gangrape has emboldened women and they were coming forward in large numbers to register complaints."The help line gets around 45 to 50 complaints every month many of which pertains to harassment of women," she said.The East Central Railway (ECR) which has headquarters at Hajipur in Bihar has set up a control room for ensuring security of women in running trains. The mobile number 9771425718 is being widely publicised.The ECR zone has started a security control number while the Government Railway Police (GRP) is set to start a helpline soon.Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Rail, Parasnath Rai said that very soon a helpline would be created for security of women in trains and platforms within the state.

Besides patrolling by GRP has been intensified in the night and at day time too, he said.

The Rail DSP and In-charge of Railway police stations have been directed to patrol the bogies of trains passing through their areas at least three days in a week, the ADG said.

A total of 872 cases of rape were reported in the state in 2012, according to official figures.

Inspector General of Police, Weaker section, Arvind Pandey said that the state government has asked police to adopt zero-tolerance policy towards crimes against women.

Separate women police stations have been set up in the 40 districts in the state, he said.

Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO), ECR, Amitabh Prabhakar said the special drive to prevent males from travelling in bogies reserved for women has been intensified.

As part of the drive, a total of 5,577 males wrongfully travelling in women bogies were held in 2012 and a sum of Rs 21.43 lakh realised from them as penalty, the CPRO added.