Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar today said his organisation would launch a series of helplines across the country for women in distress.

"We will be launching helplines across the country to help men and women facing domestic violence, addiction to alcohol and other issues so that they are not motivated to commit a crime," the Art of Living founder told reporters here.

Launching the 'Volunteer for a Better India' programme here in collaboration with UNICEF and other UN bodies, he said the helplines would be used to provide counselling, medical help and legal aid for persons in distress.

Ravishankar said some of the main reasons behind crime in India were drinking alcohol, tension and intolerance which could only be eradicated by creating awareness among the youth.

"The programme will also see the launch of a legal-aid helpline which will provide legal awareness, advice and mediation service," he said.

Ravishankar said the programmes taken up by the organisation include sensitisation of students of 300 colleges across India on issues of safety of women, HIV, declining child sex ratio and corruption.