Ahmedabad Women's Helpline Records Sharp Increase in Extramarital Distress Calls
In February, a woman from a western area of Ahmedabad contacted the Abhayam 181 women's helpline in a state of severe distress. She revealed that she had abandoned her husband of five years to be with a boyfriend she met on social media, only to discover after two months that his promises of marriage were empty.
Counseling and Reconciliation Efforts
The woman expressed suicidal thoughts but was counseled by helpline staff to reconsider her choices. She is now attempting reconciliation with her estranged husband, according to a counselor from the service.
Dramatic Rise in Extramarital Issue Calls
Over the past three years, the helpline has fielded more than 10,000 distress calls specifically related to extramarital issues. This represents a five-fold increase from 2,190 calls in 2016 to 10,428 calls in 2025.
EMRI officials attribute this surge to both increased awareness and expanded service availability. "In 2015, we received only 812 calls under this category, which jumped to over 2,000 in just one year by 2016," said a senior EMRI official. "Since 2023, extramarital issues account for approximately 5% of our total call volume, with calls coming not just from major cities but from across the state."
Helpline Milestones and Performance
The Abhayam 181 helpline, funded by the state government and operated by EMRI, recently completed 12 years of operation, marking the occasion on International Women's Day, March 8.
Satish Kadia, coordinator for Abhayam in Ahmedabad district, provided analysis of 2025 data:
- 68% of cases across all categories are resolved through counseling or spot visits
- 26% of cases are referred to other agencies such as police or social justice departments
- 6% of calls are determined to be hoaxes, inconclusive, or test calls
Since its inception in March 2014, the helpline received its highest volume in 2023 with 2.18 lakh calls. In 2025, call volume decreased slightly to 1.98 lakh calls, averaging 22 calls per hour. Cumulatively, the service has handled over 18 lakh calls in its 12-year history.
Changing Patterns in Distress Calls
Analysis of call categories reveals significant shifts over time:
- Domestic violence calls increased from 32% (36,000 calls) in 2016 to 46% (90,000 calls) in 2025
- During COVID-19 years, domestic violence calls peaked at 49% in 2020 and 48% in 2021
- Other categories showing substantial growth from 2016 to 2025 include:
- Harassment, torture and abuse: 5% to 15% share
- Extramarital issues: 2% to 5% share
- Legal issues: 2% to 4% share
Abhayam coordinators also noted rising calls about interpersonal issues between women and their in-laws or children, often linked to excessive screen time or lifestyle-related conflicts.
Expert Perspective on the Trend
Jharna Pathak, secretary of Ahmedabad Women Action Group (AWAG), observed that domestic violence, abuse, and extramarital issues consistently form the bulk of cases at their counseling centers.
"I believe this increase should be viewed both as an outlet for women to express their distress and as a message to the system that women's issues require more serious attention from police agencies for long-term resolution," Pathak emphasized.
The Abhayam 181 helpline continues to serve as a critical first line of defense for women facing various forms of distress across Gujarat, with its evolving call patterns reflecting changing social dynamics and increased willingness among women to seek help.
