In the first its kind venture, a helpline service headquartered in the city has become operational, offering assistance to the majority community all over the country.

The round-the-clock 'Hindu Helpline' will respond and guide the callers facilitating required assistance to deal with medical emergencies, travel difficulties, discriminatory practices at Governmental level in addition to providing religious services.

"We have a network of about 25,000 volunteers who would be operating to assist any Hindu needing help while travelling in every nook and corner of the country. Even a car mechanic will be made available for a stranded family with just one call to the helpline," said Ranjeet Natu, President of 'Hindu Helpline', which was launched on 'Gudi Padva' (Hindu New Year Day) on April 4.

Talking to PTI, Natu said the helpline, the first of its kind on all India level, had materialised after one and a half year of planning and compilation of database covering 800 major centres in the country and Pune was chosen as its nodal point for "connectivity" advantage.

The database covers 550 districts, 50 major cities and 200 pilgrim centres to offer assistance to the callers, he said, adding the helpline, since its launch, had received "tremendous response" from across the country. "On an average we are receiving about 500 calls every day."

Asked whether the venture would invite accusations of "promoting communalism", he said "every community has a right to protect its interests. On the phoneline we will not be checking religious credentials of the caller and it will be seen on a humanitarian ground if a Muslim or a Christian avails of the Hindu Helpline."