India to get 911- like response agency?

The Centre is examining a proposal by the Andhra Pradesh government which has recommended setting up a national emergency response agency like 911 in United States or 999 in the UK, where the police are bound by law to reach the citizen within minutes of the call. The proposal submitted to the union home ministry has driven the attention of many within the government who feel that such a move will not only help ensure ‘’ accountability’’ but also instil a sense of safety and security among women and weaker sections of the society.

The proposed central helpline should be backed up by the professional agencies, adequate funding and dedicated personnel for this work only, the state government has said.

While such a project will require the consent from state governments, it will also require massive logistical support and state of the art infrastructure. A home ministry official con- ceded that a central helpline will immediately connect the missing dots in the present system where different services from lodging police complaints, medical aid, accidents, fire, reporting of harassment of women are disconnected. “In the existing system, there is still scope left for the state authorities to deflect responsibility.

The entire tussle over jurisdiction issues, and which department is responsible to provide which particular service will be done away with and providing immediate help to a citizen in trouble will become the focus and primary responsibility,” a government official said.

The Andhra Pradesh chief secretary recommended the safety of women following the brutal gangrape of a 23year- old in the national capital, has pointed out that such a requirement cannot be compromised with any longer as the government needs to “ensure that the country is safe and secure for its citizens, particularly for the vulnerable sections of the society”.