Women in Distress helpline operator tries to kill herself

A 23-year-old woman working with Delhi government’s Women in Distress helpline number 181 attempted suicide by taking an overdose of sleeping pills at her house in central Delhi’s Asaf Ali Road on Wednesday.

She claimed to have taken the extreme step over mental harassment at work by women rights activist Khadija Farooqui, who heads the helpline housed on the third floor of Delhi Secretariat.

Anam has been working there as a telephone operator for the last two years. She has also lodged a written complaint against Farooqui with IP Estate police station.“The woman claimed she was being harassed by her coordinator for the last several months,” said a police officer. In her complaint, Anam stated that Farooqui used to scold her alleging discrepancy in attending calls made on the helpline number.

It is alleged that Anam was also scolded without any specific reason on Wednesday.A call was made to the police control room after Anam was admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital late on Wednesday. On being questioned, her parents told police that she had consumed an overdose of sleeping pills at their house around 9 pm.

They brought her to the hospital after she complained of uneasiness. Her condition is stated to be out danger, but she was under observation till late on Thursday.

“Anam was also targeted as she tried to expose the corrupt practices in the 181 helpline’s operations,” said Anam’s relative who was attending her at the hospital on Thursday evening. Farooqui refused to comment saying she was not authorised to speak to media.

A senior official of the Delhi government’s Women and Child Development Department said they were looking into the matter, but “it is basically a police case”.The official confirmed a claim by Anam’s relative that she had given two complaints against Farooqui. A “joint director” is handling the whole matter, said the official, requesting that the joint director should be contacted for details.