The State and Central Governments have come together to set up the short code 181 as 24 hours Women's Helpline in Tamil Nadu that will provide immediate and emergency response to women affected by violence and distress.

The awareness about this helpline should be taken to a larger number of women, expressed A.S.Kumari, Chairman, Tamil Nadu State Women's Commission at the 16th edition of National Cyber Safety and Security Standards Summit was held at Kongunadu Arts and Science College on Friday. 

Khalieraj, Director, National Cyber Safety and Security Standards was the Chief Guest. 500+ participants across India, from Engineering, Arts and Science colleges and the industries that deal with cyber security have taken part in the summit that goes on till Saturday with 7 distinguished resource persons.  

A.S.Kumari briefed the attendees about One Stop Center/ One Stop Crisis Center formed in the State by the Social Welfare Department, to protect all women affected by violences that include physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and financial abuses that happen in public and personal spaces, like home, schools, colleges, offices etc.

The Center provides legal aid, shelter, medical support and counselling support. 

She said that educational institutions should take students for an awareness trip to these centers and let girl students know about the range of solutions and protection that are available for abused women. 

She shared that even today domestic violence is the most common threat women in Tamil Nadu face.  On the other hand, Girls in rural areas not only face crimes like child marriage but also cyber abuse, she told.

She expressed that on average 10 women file complaints at the commission's Chennai office per day. She said since she took over as the chief of the commission, 2000 petitions from women who have been victims of cyber and other abuses in Tamil Nadu have been received and they are being looked into.

She stressed that awareness among women and men has to be created at greater levels, and women especially should be taught how to handle online social platforms. 

C.A. Vasuki, the Secretary of Kongunadu Arts and Science College in her address at the inauguration, expressed that digitization has taken the country by storm but at the same time, the threat to user data's safety is also on the rise.

She said the country is developing cyber defence technology to combat this threat, and placed faith in college students and young talents who can develop these defences at a much faster pace.