Get help
Helpline Numbers,
and What Each Does.
Four numbers matter, and they do different things. Calling the right one first saves time you may not have.
Call 112. Give your location before anything else. It works from any phone, including one with no SIM and no balance.
The four national numbers
| Number | What it is | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| 181 | Women's Helpline Toll free, 24 hours, all India |
The default first call for dowry harassment. Counselling, referral to a Protection Officer, shelter, and help pushing a police complaint forward. |
| 112 | Emergency Response Support System Police, fire, ambulance |
Immediate physical danger. Works with no SIM and no balance. |
| 1091 | Women in Distress Police-operated, city level |
Urgent but not life threatening, where you want a police response rather than counselling. |
| 7827-170-170 | National Commission for Women WhatsApp and voice |
When a local complaint is being ignored and you need it escalated above the district. |
Other numbers worth knowing
| Number | Service | For |
|---|---|---|
| 1098 | Childline India | Where children in the household are at risk, or the marriage involves a minor. |
| 14567 | Elderline | Where an older relative is being pressured or abused in the same dispute. |
| 1800-599-0019 | Kiran, mental health | Distress, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Free, 24 hours, multiple languages. |
| 15100 | Legal aid, most states | Free legal advice through the State Legal Services Authority. |
State commissions for women
Every state has its own Commission for Women, and they are frequently more responsive on local matters than the national body. They can summon parties, seek police reports, and press the district administration. Contact details change, so the reliable route is the National Commission's directory rather than a list here that would go stale: ncw.nic.in ↗
What a helpline can and cannot do
Can: arrange immediate police response, refer you to a Protection Officer under the Domestic Violence Act, find shelter, provide counselling, connect you to free legal aid, and follow up on a complaint that has stalled.
Cannot: register an FIR for you. That still has to happen at a police station, though a helpline can accompany or push. Nor can it grant a protection order, which requires a magistrate. The complaint process is here.
Before you call
- Have your location ready. It is the first thing asked and the thing that determines how fast anyone arrives.
- Know roughly what was demanded and by whom. You will be asked, and a clear answer speeds everything up.
- If it is safe to do so, call from a phone that is not monitored.
- Ask for a reference or complaint number and write it down.
Related reading
Common questions
What is the dowry helpline number in India?
181 is the national Women's Helpline and is the primary number for dowry harassment. It operates 24 hours and is free. For an emergency where there is immediate danger, call 112. 1091 is the Women in Distress line, and the National Commission for Women can be reached on 7827-170-170.
Is the 181 helpline free and available 24 hours?
Yes. 181 is toll free and operates around the clock across India. It can provide counselling, refer you to a Protection Officer under the Domestic Violence Act, arrange shelter, and help with police follow-up.
What number do I call in an immediate emergency?
112. It is India's single emergency number covering police, fire and ambulance, and it works from any phone including one with no SIM. Say plainly that you are in danger and give your location first.