Bhopal, March 15 The Madhya Pradesh government is integrating the women's helpline number 181 and the child helpline 1098 with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) number 112 as part of the Centre's "One Nation, One Helpline" initiative, a senior official said on Sunday.
This move, spearheaded by the state government's Women and Child Development Department, will enable any woman or child under the age of 18, or any person on their behalf, to seek immediate assistance by calling 181, 1098, or 112, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without charge, the official said.
"Helpline 181 aims to provide immediate assistance and support to women affected by violence, and it is integrated with all 'one-stop centres' in the state, providing access to police, hospitals, ambulances, the District Legal Services Authority, protection officers, and other essential services from a single platform. It also provides emotional and psychological support from trained counselors," the official said.
Between April 1, 2025, and January 29 this year, the helpline has provided assistance to 1.28 lakh women, the official pointed out.
"Child helpline 1098 has also been linked to ERSS-112. Calls received on the helpline are categorized by responders based on their nature. In case of an emergency, calls are immediately routed to ERSS-112 and the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU). In the 2025-26 fiscal year, up to January 29 this year, assistance has been provided to 26,974 children. This includes protection, counseling, and rehabilitation," he said.
The Madhya Pradesh government is continuously taking concrete steps to ensure the safety, respect, and empowerment of women and children under Chief Minister Mohan Yadav through technology-based support systems, he added.