Multi-mode police helpline launched in Punjab

Punjab today launched a multi-mode Police Helpline for women, children, senior citizens and NRIs to attend to their grievances in a time-bound manner.
Launching the toll-free '181' Police Helpline at a function in Mohali, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said, "No complaint will be disposed off till the complainant is satisfied with the response."
Badal also inaugurated the NRI and Women Wing, which has been integrated with the '181' helpline, to monitor all complaints pertaining to NRIs and women.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the toll-free help line as well as the NRI and Women Wing was among the initiatives taken by the SAD-BJP government to make the police force more efficient and accountable to the people.

Badal said any one could register a complaint, even anonymously, against delaying tactics of police, drug abuse, anti-social elements, lawlessness and corruption.
He said in order to ensure complete professionalism, the helpline work had been outsourced to private company which would set up a 20 seat call centre with a dedicated clinical psychologist as counsellor.

Badal said the round the clock helpline would have multiple modes of contact like phone, sms, fax, email and web-portal.
All calls would be recorded to ensure quality of service and discourage misuse of this helpline while at the same time complete confidentiality of the caller will be maintained.

The multiple modes of contact for this helpline include; Dial 181 from phone, SMS at 7696-181-181, fax no.-0172-6626181, e.Mail-help@181pph.Com and portal- www.181pph.Com, a state official said.
When calling from abroad, people will have to call 0091-172-2298543.
Meanwhile, the office of IGP (NRI Affairs) at Punjab Police Headquarters, Sector-9, Chandigarh has been shifted as an independent wing to SAS Nagar under an IG rank officer.
The NRI Wing shall be the nodal authority in the state for monitoring inquiries/investigations involving NRIs, women, senior citizens and children.
NRIs shall be able to contact the NRI Wing on 0172-2260042, 2260043 or at emailnri.Pbpolice@gmail.Com, the official said.