Rajnath launches single emergency number ‘112’

Tribune News Service

Mandi, November 28

Himachal on Wednesday became the first state to launch a pan-India single emergency number '112' where all kinds of immediate help can be sought in urgent matters.

The Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) was launched by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in the presence of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here.

Under this project, an Emergency Response Centre (ERC) has been set up in Shimla along with 12 district command centres (DCCs), covering the entire state.

The ERC has been integrated with police (100), fire (101), health (108) and women (1090) helpline numbers to provide emergency services through the emergency number '112'.

The single number for various emergency services, which is similar to the ‘911’ all-in-one emergency service in the US, will be gradually rolled out across the country.

The service also includes a ‘112 India’ mobile app that is integrated with a panic button for smartphones and state ERSS websites for ease of citizen in availing immediate assistance.

The Union minister said this would provide a single emergency response number across the country, providing 24X 7 efficient and effective response which can receive input from various voice and data services such as voice call, SMS, email, panic buttons in public transport etc. to attend to citizens in distress. He said that the system would identify the location of the person in distress connecting through voice or data and immediate assistance would be provided to the distressed.

The Home Minister said that for safety of the women, a Women Safety Division had been created. Moreover, several web-enabled other schemes had been launched by the Union Government for safety and security of the women.

The Union minister also launched the website of the ERSS on the occasion. A documentary on the scheme was also screened.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, while thanking the Union Home Minister for selecting Himachal for launching this project, said that anybody in distress would be able to call 112 from landline or mobile phone. Prompt action on all the emergency calls would be taken. In addition to this, the problem related to coordination would also be simplified.

Thakur said within 100 days of its tenure the state government had launched Guidya Helpline and Shakti App for safety of girls and women. The scheme launched by the Union Government would go a long way in women empowerment by providing them free and fearless environment, he added.

The Chief Minister thanked the Union Home Minister for sanctioning an NDRF battalion for the state keeping in view the tough topography of the region and also for providing seven helicopters for airlifting stranded people in the Lahaul valley and Holi in Chamba due to untimely snow fall and rains. He said that the state had suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1,600 crores due to torrential rains during the monsoon this year. He urged the Union Minister to provide one more battalion of Mahila Vahini for Himachal Pradesh.

DGP SR Mardi said that Rs 4.71 crore and 13 vehicles had been provided by the Union Government for effective implementation of this scheme.