Centre announces WhatsApp helpline '8929667579' for differently abled

The Centre has issued a WhatsApp helpline number ‘8929667579’ for the differently-abled (deaf and dumb) people, announced the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Besides, a QR code has been created on the website “www.depwd.gov.in”.

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Former BJP MP from Punjab Avinash Rai Khanna had written to Social Justice Minister Virendra Kumar, requesting for a special helpline for the differently abled, who can’t use the normal helpline for the lack of speech and sound.

Khanna said although the government had established a helpline for all, but due to the unavailability of a WhatsApp-based number, ‘deaf and dumb’ people were not able to express their concerns without help. He said that those specially abled could operate a WhatsApp-based helpline independently and may seek help on their own in an emergency.

Khanna had been raising this issue for a long time, and had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Communication, the Ministry of Social Welfare, and Chairman Committee of Petition, Lok Sabha.

The ministry already runs a helpline “14456”. In February, the ministry integrated Video Relay Service (VRS) into the National Helpline (14456). The VRS enables individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired to communicate with hearing people through video calls and sign language interpreters.

This would help deaf individuals to connect seamlessly with hearing persons, including government offices, emergency services and service providers, through real-time interpretation in Indian Sign Language (ISL). The VRS can be accessed easily by scanning the QR Code below for quick connectivity.