New Delhi: The National Commission for Women will soon start a 24-hour helpline to assist women in distress, its chief Mamta Sharma said Friday.
"A 24-hour helpline on a toll-free number will be started by the NCW in three months," Sharma told reporters here.
"This will expedite registration of complaints and assist speedy solutions," she said.
The helpline will provide counselling as well as immediate help to those in need, an NCW member told reporters.
"The helpline will provide counselling for those who need. Apart from this, for those who need immediate rescue, we will provide help from local police and hospitals. We are also consulting a number of NGOs for assistance in this," the member said.
Presently, NCW accepts online complaints on its website. Nearly 563 complaints were received between August and October this year.
"The toll-free help line will make it easier for women to register their complaint, it will make NCW more accessible," Sharma said.
The chairperson also added that it was an effort on NCW's part to let the state women commissions handle more local cases.
IANS
First Published: Friday, November 04, 2011, 16:12