NCW launches 24×7 helpline 14490 for women in distress

New Delhi: The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Monday launched a new 24×7 short-code helpline, 14490, aimed at providing quicker and more accessible assistance to women in distress across the country. The toll-free number, designed to be easy to recall, is linked to the Commission’s existing helpline 7827170170, enabling women to seek help without cost or delay.

According to NCW, the introduction of the short code strengthens efforts to ensure immediate support for women facing violence, harassment, discrimination or any form of crisis. As the first point of contact, the helpline will continue coordinating with local authorities, guiding callers, and facilitating prompt interventions for those requiring urgent assistance.

The Commission has urged citizens, community groups, educational institutions and partner organisations to widely publicise the new number so that more women become aware of the round-the-clock services available to them.

NCW receives thousands of complaints annually, including cases of domestic violence, dowry harassment, cyberstalking, sexual harassment, and other gender-based crimes, many of which have long-term psychological effects. To provide holistic assistance, the helpline is staffed with trained psychological counsellors from reputed mental health institutions. Their role includes helping women register complaints as well as offering trauma-informed emotional support.

As the apex body for safeguarding women’s rights, NCW works to promote gender equality through policy recommendations, legislative reviews, monitoring of law enforcement, and the implementation of schemes aimed at addressing discrimination. The Commission also conducts awareness campaigns, legal literacy programmes, studies on women’s issues, and operates a digital complaint portal alongside its dedicated helplines. It additionally addresses concerns such as human trafficking, online safety, and challenges faced by women in the North-East.

Meanwhile, nearly 4.5 lakh crimes against women were reported in India in 2023, a slight increase from the previous two years, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Delhi remained the most unsafe “mega city” for women for the third consecutive year. Among states, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of cases at 66,381, followed by Maharashtra (47,101), Rajasthan (45,450), West Bengal (34,691) and Madhya Pradesh (32,342).

With IANS inputs