Bihar Women Helpline Domestic Violence case: Bihar’s Women Development Corporation helpline 181 has received 13,17,713 calls over four-and-a-half years, according to the available data. Out of these calls, 16,909 were registered as formal cases.
Domestic violence was the biggest category among these cases. A total of 9,412 cases were related to domestic violence. The helpline also received complaints involving mental harassment, dowry harassment and child marriage.
Of the 16,909 cases registered through the helpline, 9,412 were related to domestic violence. This was followed by complaints about taunts and mental harassment.
Bihar Approves Five-Storey Modern Bus Terminals in 9 Cities
A total of 2,212 cases involved mental harassment, while 1,404 cases were linked to dowry harassment. The helpline also received information about 177 child marriage cases.
The figures show that many women contacted the helpline because of problems inside their homes. However, the 181 service is also used for several other kinds of help.
The large number of calls received by 181 doesn’t mean that all of them became formal complaints.
Women also call the helpline to ask about government schemes, cybercrime, legal help and other support services. In some cases, the police have already started working on the issue. Helpline workers can also provide counselling and basic guidance over the phone. Some problems are handled this way without being registered as formal cases.
When a woman calls 181, the helpline team first tries to understand her situation and what kind of help she needs.
If the woman is facing an immediate danger, the call can be connected to 112, the emergency police number. Police teams can then respond to the situation.
The 181 team can later follow up with the woman. If police action isn’t immediately needed, the woman can be connected with a Sakhi One Stop Centre for counselling and other support.
In one Patna case, a teacher facing serious mental distress received help after her child contacted the 181 helpline. The helpline team coordinated with police and officers reached the location to provide assistance.
In another case from Siwan, a woman who had been facing problems for a long time was unable to clearly tell the team where she was. The 181 team contacted 112 and the Siwan Sakhi One Stop Centre. Police assistance was then used to trace her family and connect her with her husband.
Bihar Vidya Bhavan in Patna: Education Department Offices to Come Under One Roof
The helpline is also used to report possible child marriages. In one case from Patna, information was received about the planned marriage of a 14-year-old girl. A relative reportedly contacted 181 without giving their identity.
The helpline team worked with the Sakhi One Stop Centre and police. Action was then taken at the location to stop the marriage.
Women who need a safe place can also be referred to Shakti Sadan. There are facilities available at 16 locations across Bihar. Women who need specialised mental health support can be sent to Aasra homes. Legal assistance can also be provided in cases involving maintenance, domestic violence and other related problems.
The number of calls received by the helpline has gone up in recent years.
In 2022-23, 83,233 calls were received and 2,602 cases were registered. In the next year, the helpline received 1,04,146 calls and registered 2,556 cases.
The number rose sharply in 2024-25, when 4,07,684 calls were received and 5,262 cases were registered.
In 2025-26, 4,68,074 calls were received and 4,248 cases were registered.
Between April and August 2026, the 181 helpline received 2,54,576 calls. Out of these, 2,241 were registered as cases.
During the same period, 1,878 cases were disposed of. Across the four-and-a-half-year period covered by the data, 12,878 cases were disposed of, while assistance was provided in 1,29,691 calls.
This website uses cookies.