357 complaints lodged at one-stop centre for women victims of violence in a year

Times of India: Gurgaon: Wednesday, June 06, 2018.

The One Stop Centre (OSC) for women affected by violence in the district has received 357 complaints in a year between April 2017 and March 2018, revealed an RTI reply. A majority of these complaints are against domestic violence and child sexual abuse.

Set up in January 2017, Gurgaon’s OSC is run from the Civil hospital. It became operational only in April last year. The centre offers integrated support and assistance to women affected by any kind of violence in their private and public spheres, including within her family, community and at workplace.

The reply to the RTI query which was filed by Aseem Takyar on May 1, 2018, said that of the 357 complaints, 100 were of child sexual abuse, 86 of rape, two of sexual harassment, 146 of domestic violence, two of child marriage, 10 of kidnapping, two of dowry harassment, one of cyber crime and 8 of other nature.

“The minor girls who are victims under the Juvenile Justice (care and Protection of Children) Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act are in touch with the centre. The centre is integrated with a helpline for women: 181,” said Shakuntala Dhull, the chairperson of the child welfare committee.

The OSC also helps to provide medical assistance in cases of violence against women, such as referring her to a hospital as well as ensuring police assistance, psycho-social support or counseling, legal aid or counseling, shelter and video-conferencing facilities.

Balkrishna Geol, member, state commission for protection of child rights, said, “The centre is currently operating from a single room but that doesn’t mean there is any laxity in caregiving to a victim. The centre ensures that the women are provided proper mental and physical support. At the same time, efforts are being made to improve existing infrastructure."

Vinay Pratap Singh, deputy commissioner, Gurgaon, said, “A temporary OSC has been set up in the Civil hospital. A proposal to allot land near Mini Secretariat for a permanent office has been sent to the state headquarters. Nearly 300 square yards of land will be transferred to the women and child development department from the agriculture department after a nod from the head office.”

Notably, the state government will set up similar OSCs in Ambala, Panchkula, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Yamunanagar, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Jind, Sonipat, Panipat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Charkhi Dadri, Palwal and Nuh districts. A budget of over Rs 20.61 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of these centres.