After glitch, helpline for women starts in Delhi

Causing embarrassment to the Delhi government, its much-vaunted helpline for women suffered technical glitches soon after launch on Monday. Mobile phone users could not connect to its toll-free number 181 before evening.

For a better part of the day, a long beep greeted callers on the helpline which is being operated from Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's residence.

A government official explained: "Since 181 is a toll-free number, it takes time for other mobile network providers to get connected to it."

By evening, however, the problem was sorted out and the helpline became accessible also from mobile phone networks like Airtel, MTNL and Vodafone.

Dikshit last week announced the setting up of the helpline in the wake of gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman Dec 16. The woman died Saturday.

Women in distress can seek any help from the round-the-clock facility.