Kerala to have 24x7 women help-desk

A 24x7 women help-desk, ensuring safe and comfortable stay for women who arrive in the city especially during late night hours, will start functioning here soon.
Kerala State Women's Development Corporation (KSWDC) has drawn up a plan to open the desk to support women who have to travel in the wee hours as part of their personal and professional engagements.
The round-the-clock help desk is being set up with the support of the city police.
The help desk initiative was part of a host of pro-women programmes, being launched in the state to ensure the safety and security of women, a KSWDC official said.

"We are planning to open the help-desk, approved in the last budget, in April. It will be a joint initiative with the support of the city police," Asha, a project co-ordinator of KSWDC, said.
The help-desk will also provide accommodation to needy women during night. It was envisaged as a shelter, which could accommodate at least 50 women at a time. A woman police officer would co-ordinate the operations at the centre, she said.

"The city police has offered to ensure the service of a woman officer. With the coming up of the help desk, a common number will be announced and needy women can contact the officer in it," she said.

A vehicle will pick them up and take to the accommodation centre during the late night hours, she said.
The help-desk would be in a prime location near railway station, bus stands or airport, she said.