112 SOS 181
Helplines Abuse Guide Schemes NGOs Rights Stats Safety Tips Call 112
Women's Safety & Empowerment · India

You Are Not Alone.
Help Is Always Here.

A complete resource guide — emergency helplines, government schemes, NGOs, legal rights, and what to do in a crisis. Compiled with care by ShakTide.

112 — Emergency 181 — Women Helpline 1091 — Women Police 1098 — Child Helpline
📞

Emergency Helpline Numbers

All 24×7 — free to call from any phone anywhere in India. Tap the number to dial directly.

All India Women's Helpline
181
24×7 immediate support for women in distress — violence, harassment, abuse. Connects to local support.
Women Police Helpline
1091
Immediate police assistance for women in unsafe or threatening situations.
National Emergency (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
112
Single emergency number for all immediate threats. Covers police, fire brigade & ambulance nationwide.
National Commission for Women (NCW)
7827170170
24×7 helpline for reporting violence, domestic abuse, workplace harassment & seeking legal advice.
Domestic Violence Helpline
181
Specific line for victims of domestic abuse — emotional, physical, financial, or sexual violence at home.
Cyber Crime Helpline
1930
For online harassment, cyberstalking, fake profiles, blackmail, morphed images & financial cyber fraud.
Child Helpline
1098
For girls under 18 facing abuse, trafficking, child marriage, exploitation, or neglect. Free & confidential.
KIRAN Mental Health Helpline
1800-599-0019
Free 24×7 mental health support. If you feel unsafe, depressed, isolated or emotionally exhausted — call now.
National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
15100
Free legal representation if you cannot afford a lawyer. Covers domestic violence, rights violations & more.
NCW WhatsApp Help
7217735372
Text or call the National Commission for Women on WhatsApp for discreet help when you can't speak aloud.
🛡️

What To Do In Case of Abuse

Step-by-step guidance for different situations. Your safety comes first — always.

🚨 In Immediate Danger? Act Now.

Move to a safe place. Keep documents & phone with you. Call someone you trust.

Call 112 Call 181 WhatsApp NCW
1
Domestic Violence
You are protected under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. File a police complaint, ask for a Domestic Incident Report (DIR) from a Protection Officer, and seek protection orders.
→ Dial 181 · Visit nearest Sakhi Centre
2
Workplace Sexual Harassment
Under the POSH Act, every workplace must have an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). Report in writing, save screenshots and evidence, contact HR or ICC, or file through the government SHe-Box portal.
→ SHe-Box Portal
3
Cyber Harassment
Fake accounts, blackmail, morphed images, online stalking, threatening messages — take screenshots, don't delete evidence, block the offender, and report immediately on the National Cyber Crime Portal.
→ cybercrime.gov.in · Call 1930
4
Sexual Assault
Visit a government hospital or One-Stop Sakhi Centre immediately. Medical records are critical legal evidence. You do NOT need to file a police complaint first to receive medical care.
→ Dial 112 · Go to nearest hospital
5
Child or Forced Marriage
Child marriage is illegal in India. If you or someone you know is being forced — call 1098 (Childline) or inform local police immediately. You can also contact the NCW complaint portal.
→ NCW Complaint Portal
6
Need Free Legal Help?
If you cannot afford a lawyer, contact NALSA for free legal aid covering domestic violence, sexual assault, rights violations and more. Every woman has the right to free legal representation.
→ Call NALSA: 15100
🏛️

Government Schemes for Women

Under Mission Shakti and beyond — support for safety, health, education & financial independence.

Sambal — Safety
One Stop Centre (Sakhi Centres)
24-hour integrated support — medical, legal, police, psycho-social, and shelter — for women affected by any form of violence.
Learn more
Sambal — Safety
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Prevents gender-biased sex selection and ensures girl-child education and welfare across India.
Learn more
Sambal — Safety
Nari Adalat
Women's collectives at the village level to resolve local disputes and deliver grassroots justice without bureaucratic delays.
Learn more
Samarthya — Empowerment
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
Cash incentive of ₹5,000 for pregnant women for their first child to encourage institutional delivery and rest before delivery.
Learn more
Samarthya — Empowerment
Lakhpati Didi
Training for Self-Help Group (SHG) members to earn at least ₹1 Lakh annually through skill development and enterprise support.
Learn more
Samarthya — Empowerment
Palna — National Creche Scheme
Safe, subsidised daycare centres for children of working mothers, encouraging women's workforce participation.
Learn more
Welfare
Working Women's Hostel Scheme
Safe and affordable accommodation for women working away from home. Hostels in urban, semi-urban & industrial areas.
Learn more
Welfare
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
High-interest savings scheme for girl children to secure their education and marriage expenses with government-backed returns.
Learn more
Welfare
Ujjwala Scheme
Rehabilitation and support for women and girls affected by trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation — shelter, counselling, legal aid.
Learn more
Rural Empowerment
Mahila Shakti Kendra
Empowerment and community engagement programs for women in rural India — training, awareness, sports, and digital literacy.
Learn more
Online Reporting
NCW Online Complaint Portal
File online complaints for domestic violence, workplace harassment, dowry harassment, cyber abuse, and other violations against women.
File Complaint
Workplace Safety
SHe-Box Portal (POSH Act)
Government portal to register complaints about sexual harassment at the workplace. Tracks ICC compliance across all sectors.
Visit SHe-Box
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Anganwadi Services

Your first point of contact in rural and semi-urban areas — part of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).

What Anganwadi Centres Provide

  • Take Home Ration (THR) — nutritional support for pregnant and lactating mothers.
  • Health Checkups & Vaccination — awareness and access to immunisation for mothers and children.
  • Early Childhood Care — education and care for children aged 0–6 years.
  • Nutrition Support — supplementary food and growth monitoring for all young children.
  • Counselling Support — Anganwadi workers act as community counsellors for women.

How They Help Women in Crisis

  • Anganwadi Workers (AWW) connect women experiencing abuse to the nearest Sakhi One-Stop Centre.
  • They can help contact local police or Protection Officers to file a Domestic Incident Report (DIR).
  • They are trusted community figures who can help discreetly without social stigma.
  • Located in every village and urban ward — you don't need to travel far for help.
Find your nearest Anganwadi
🤝

NGOs & Support Organisations

Grassroots organisations working for women's safety, health, livelihood, and empowerment across India.

ShakTide
Social Initiative · Not an NGO
ShakTide is a social initiative dedicated to spreading awareness about menstrual health, women's empowerment, and hygiene education. Through youth campaigns, outreach programs, and community engagement, ShakTide works to break myths, reduce stigma, and create a safer, healthier future for every woman and girl in India.
Visit ShakTide
SEWA — Self Employed Women's Association
Livelihood & Employment
Supports women in the informal sector with employment, financial independence, training, and social security — one of India's largest women's labour organisations.
Visit SEWA
Snehalaya
Rehabilitation & Healthcare
Provides rehabilitation, healthcare, and education for women and children rescued from trafficking, domestic violence, and exploitation.
Visit Snehalaya
Breakthrough India
Gender Equality & Awareness
Uses media, arts, and community mobilisation to challenge gender norms, promote equality, and end violence against women and girls.
Visit Breakthrough
Azad Foundation
Non-Traditional Livelihoods
Empowers marginalised women through training in non-traditional livelihoods such as professional driving — building economic independence.
Visit Azad
Jagori
Safety, Education & Rights
Works on urban women's safety, training, and documentation of rights. Known for the "Safe Delhi" campaigns and grassroots safety audits.
Visit Jagori
Majlis Legal Centre
Legal Aid & Support
Provides legal litigation services and social support for women and children facing domestic violence, sexual assault, and rights violations in court.
Visit Majlis
Sayfty
Personal Safety & Self-Defence
Educates women and girls about personal safety through self-defence workshops, awareness programmes, and digital safety training.
Visit Sayfty
ActionAid India
Land Rights & Bodily Integrity
Works at grassroots level to secure women's rights over land, resources, and bodily integrity, particularly for marginalised and rural communities.
Visit ActionAid
CARE India
Health, Education & Livelihoods
Supports women and girls through integrated programmes in healthcare, education, disaster relief, and livelihood training across India.
Visit CARE India
⚖️

Rights Every Woman Must Know

These are your rights under Indian law. They cannot be taken from you.

Right to Education
Right to Equal Pay
Right to Safe Workplace
Protection from Violence
Right to Free Legal Aid
Right to Healthcare Access
Right to Dignity & Privacy
Right to Property & Inheritance
Right to Choose Marriage
Right to Vote & Political Participation
Right to Choose Career
Protection from Dowry Harassment

No one has the right to:

Abuse you
Threaten you
Force marriage
Harass you online or offline
Control your education
Control your career
Demand dowry
🧠

Mental Health & Emotional Support — KIRAN Helpline

If you feel unsafe, emotionally exhausted, depressed, or isolated — you are not alone. Asking for help is a sign of strength. Call 1800-599-0019 (free, 24×7) or visit NIMHANS for professional support.

🌍

Why This Matters — Global Data

Facts from the UN, WHO & Government of India. Awareness is the first step to change.

1 in 3
Women globally experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime (WHO, 2021)
736M
Women subjected to intimate partner or non-partner violence at least once (UN Women, 2023)
86K
Women killed by partners or family in 2023 — the most unsafe place is home (UNODC, 2023)
40%
Of murders of women worldwide are committed by an intimate partner (UN Women)
12M
Girls forced into child marriage every year worldwide (UNICEF, 2023)
2.4B
Women and girls live in countries without full legal protection from domestic violence (World Bank)

📊 India — NCRB & Government Data

4,45,256
Crimes against women reported in India in 2022 (NCRB 2022)
31.4%
Women aged 18–49 who experienced spousal violence (NFHS-5, 2019–21)
23,953
Rape cases registered in India in 2022 (NCRB 2022)
7,214
Dowry death cases reported in 2022 — nearly 20 per day (NCRB 2022)

Sources: NCRB Annual Report 2022 · NFHS-5 (MoHFW) · Ministry of Women & Child Development

🎯 UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 — Gender Equality

End all forms of discrimination against women
Eliminate violence & exploitation
End child marriage & FGM
Equal leadership & participation
Universal reproductive rights
Equal economic rights

India has committed to achieving SDG 5 by 2030. UN SDG 5 →

💡

Safety Tips & Awareness

Practical, verified guidance — compiled from WHO, NCW, and women's safety experts.

📱
Digital Safety
  • ✓ Keep your phone charged and location sharing on with a trusted person
  • ✓ Never share OTPs, passwords, or personal photos with strangers
  • ✓ Use strong PINs — don't let anyone access your phone without permission
  • ✓ Report fake profiles, cyberstalking & blackmail at cybercrime.gov.in
  • ✓ Enable emergency SOS on your smartphone settings
🚶‍♀️
Out & About Safety
  • ✓ Share your live location with someone you trust when travelling alone
  • ✓ Note the vehicle number before boarding autos/cabs
  • ✓ Use government-registered app cabs where driver details are tracked
  • ✓ Trust your instinct — if a situation feels unsafe, leave immediately
  • ✓ Avoid isolated places at night; travel in groups when possible
🏠
At Home Safety
  • ✓ Keep emergency numbers saved — 112, 181, trusted contacts
  • ✓ Have a safety plan — know where to go if you need to leave quickly
  • ✓ Keep important documents (Aadhaar, bank details) accessible to you
  • ✓ Connect with neighbours — community awareness helps everyone
  • ✓ Domestic violence is a crime — you can call police even against family
💼
Workplace Safety (POSH Act)
  • ✓ Every workplace with 10+ employees must have an ICC under POSH Act
  • ✓ You can report harassment within 3 months of the incident
  • ✓ Save screenshots, emails, and messages as evidence
  • ✓ External complaints go to Local Complaints Committee (LCC) via district officer
  • ✓ File online at shebox.nic.in for any sector
❤️‍🩹
After Trauma — What to Know
  • ✓ Seek medical care immediately — government hospitals must treat you free
  • ✓ You do NOT need a police FIR to receive medical attention
  • ✓ Medical evidence is time-sensitive — go within 72 hours if possible
  • ✓ One Stop Sakhi Centres offer medical + legal + counselling under one roof
  • ✓ KIRAN helpline 1800-599-0019 offers free psychological first aid
⚖️
Key Laws to Know
  • ✓ IPC Sec 498A — Protection from husband/family cruelty
  • ✓ PWDVA 2005 — Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act
  • ✓ POCSO 2012 — Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
  • ✓ IT Act Sec 66E/67 — Punishment for cyberstalking & morphed images
  • ✓ Dowry Prohibition Act — Demanding or giving dowry is a crime