A country-wide round-the-clock helpline service was launched here today by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) offering assistance to people while on travel or otherwise.

The 24x7 "Hindu Helpline" (HHL) would respond and guide the callers facilitating required assistance to deal with medical emergencies, travel difficulties, discriminatory practises at governmental level in addition to providing religious services, firebrand VHP leader Pravin Togadia said.

"The helpline has 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," the VHP international secretary general said adding that the helpline has already become operational.

Stating that HHL volunteers and service providers would be available in all districts and pilgrim centres, Togadia said even a car mechanic would be made available for stranded people with a call to the helpline.

The helpline, perhaps the first of its kind on an all India level for travellers, has materialised after one and a half year of planning and compilation of database.

"Even when there is no difficulty or problem, one feels nice and safe if someone reliable is there while on shopping or site seeing on a holiday," Togadia said.

HHL has also instituted Hindu Ratna Award for people and institutions doing notable work for Hindus in the fields of art and culture, architecture, protection of heritage, health, justice, business, trade, tribal and rural development, agriculture, labour welfare, children and women development and information technology, he said.