Haryana to have one-stop centres for violence-affected women

With the aim to provide assistance and support to women victims of any kind of violence, both in private and public places, the Haryana government on Tuesday announced to set up "One Stop Centres" (OSCs) in 15 districts.

Haryana Women and Child Development Minister Kavita Jain said here that nearly Rs 21 crore would be spent on the construction of these centres under the Swarn Jayanti Programme.

"These will support women affected by violence, in private and public spaces, within the family, community and at workplace. Women facing physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and economic abuse, irrespective of age, class, caste, education status, marital status, and race and culture, will be provided support and redressal," he said.

 

Aggrieved women facing any kind of violence due to attempted sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, trafficking, honour-related crimes, acid attacks or witch-hunting, who have reached out or been referred to the centre, would be provided with specialised services, the minister added.

The centres would be set up in the districts of Ambala, Panchkula, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Yamunanagar, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Jind, Sonepat, Panipat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Charkhi Dadri, Palwal and Nuh.

Earlier, such centres were set up in Karnal, Hisar, Bhiwani, Rewari, Narnaul, Gurugram and Faridabad districts.

Jain said in order to support girls below 18 years of age, institutions and authorities established under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, would be linked with these centres.

"Each centre would be integrated with a Women Helpline to provide a range of services, including medical assistance like referral to hospital through helpline or centre, police assistance like facilitating or assisting in filing FIRs, psycho-social support or counselling, legal aid or counselling, shelter and video conferencing facility," Jain said.

--IANS

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