Recharge outlets in UP sells the mobile number of girls. The prices are based on their looks, the number of someone considered ‘beautiful’ can command as much as Rs 500.
This came to light with increasing complaints on the women helpline number, 1090, set up by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. Out of the 6 lakh-odd complaints registered with the helpline in the past four years, 90% were related to harassment of women on the phone.
Rajesh Pratap Yadav is one them who deals with around a 100 complains a day. “I call the men. There are all kinds of them: young, old, teenagers, rural, urban, working or unemployed. Some say ‘she is my girlfriend who has stopped talking to me, some say ‘I dialed the number by mistake”.
Women safety is an important issue in upcoming UP State elections.
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