Nirbhaya Helpline

Launched in 2014, the toll free Nirbhaya HelpLine has been aimed at empowering girls and women of Rajasthan facing gender-based violence. Under this project, a toll free NIRBHAYA helpline 18 001 200 020 was launched to assist women and girls by providing services directly to survivors of violence with a focus on domestic violence, sexual abuse, harassment, rape, and acid attacks or through providing referrals to other agencies. This HelpLine provides easy access to counsellors, who would be able to help them in resolving their issues.

During lockdown due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the numbers of women affected by violence have gravely increased since women were confined in their homes with abusive partners or families. Loss of income, isolation, alcohol, or drug dependency with constricted knowledge of gender norms are few of the underlying issues that factored the violent surroundings. During the pandemic, the domestic violence cases have doubled from 161 in April to 397 in May 2021.

This has prompted us to promote the Nirbhaya helpline to the Sambhali Nirbhaya project. As part of a Crisis Management Team we aim to provide knowledge of legal rights and services available to survivors; connect them with our in-house psychologist to offer counseling and emotional support as well as with the medical team in and around the city. We also help with finding rehabilitation centres for women who are affected due to violence. Sambhali also provides vocational training to help with further education and help provide the opportunity for an independent income.

Sambhali also aims to provide educational awareness through workshops and publicity material to provide information on gender-based violence, how to access help and support, and knowledge of their legal rights.