Is it really a Pan-India single emergency helpline
number?
Sixteen states and Union territories have joined a
pan-India network of the single emergency helpline number “112” on which immediate
assistance can be sought by people.
The 16 states and UTs are Andhra Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Punjab, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh,
Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andaman, Dadar Nagar
Haveli, Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, a home ministry statement said.
The ERSS is an integration of police (100), fire
(101), health (108) and women (1090) helpline numbers to provide emergency
services through the single number “112”.
To access the emergency services, a person can dial
112 on a phone or press the power button of a smart phone three times quickly
to send a panic call to the Emergency Response Centre. In case of a normal
phone, a long press of the “5” or “9” key will activate the panic call
function.
To ensure safety of women, a SHOUT feature has been
introduced in ‘112 India’ mobile app to seek immediate assistance from
registered volunteers in the vicinity apart from the immediate assistance from
Emergency Response Centre. The SHOUT feature is exclusively available to women.
People can also log onto the ERSS website for the
state and lodge emergency Email or send SOS alert to state ERC; they can use
“112”' India mobile app, which is available free on Google Playstore and Apple
store.
The single number for various emergency services is
similar to the emergency number “911” in the US.
The question arises why only 16 states? Why can’t the
government come out with an ordinance and make it an All-India number?
There should be no politics when it comes to
emergencies.
Health care should be above politics as it is a matter of
life and death.
Dr KK
Aggarwal
Padma
Shri Awardee
President
Elect Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAAO)
Group
Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications
President
Heart Care Foundation of India
Past
National President IMA
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