Women’s Safety in India: Helplines, Rights and How to Get Help

At Aadi Foundation, women’s empowerment is one of the four pillars of our work across 25 Indian states — and empowerment begins with safety. This guide brings together the helplines, rights and support systems every woman and family in India should know about, in one place you can return to.

Emergency helplines to save right now

Save these numbers in your phone today. They are free, and most operate 24×7 across India:

• 112 — the national all-in-one emergency number (police, fire, ambulance)
• 181 — the Women’s Helpline, for any woman facing violence or distress
• 1091 — the Women in Distress helpline run by state police
• 1098 — Childline, for any child in danger or in need of care
• 1930 — the national helpline for cyber and online financial fraud

If you are in immediate danger, call 112 first. If you are supporting someone else, staying on the line with them while help arrives can make all the difference.

One Stop Centres (Sakhi): everything under one roof

A woman affected by violence should not have to run between a police station, a hospital and a lawyer alone. India’s One Stop Centres, branded “Sakhi”, bring medical aid, police assistance, legal help, psychological counselling and temporary shelter together in a single place — free of charge. Hundreds operate across the country, supported by the government’s Mission Shakti. Your nearest centre can be reached through the 181 helpline.

Know your rights

India’s laws are strong — knowing them is the first step to using them. Sexual offences carry stringent punishment under the criminal law reforms that followed 2013. The POSH Act protects women from sexual harassment at the workplace and requires every employer with 10 or more staff to have an Internal Committee. Children are protected by the POCSO Act. You can read plain-English explainers and the latest news on these in our Blog & Awareness feed.

What you can do — for yourself and others

• Save the helplines above and share them with three women you know
• If you witness harassment, offer to be a witness — your statement matters
• Talk to children early about safe and unsafe touch, and the number 1098
• Support organisations working on the ground for women’s safety and dignity

How Aadi Foundation helps

Our volunteers run awareness drives, skilling programmes and support networks that help women claim safety and self-reliance. You can be part of that work — donate to support a fundraiser, volunteer with us, or start your own fundraiser for a cause you care about. Every hand makes the next woman a little safer.