DCW to open 11one-stop centres in Delhi districts

In a bid to help women in distress, each district in the national capital will get a “one-stop centre”. The centres will be run by the Delhi Commission for Women and will provide medical, legal and psychological help under one roof to the victims of rape, molestation, dowry harassment.

“As many as 11 ‘one-stop centre’ will be opened in Delhi and will be run by DCW. These centres will be opened under a Central government scheme. Funds for its functioning will be provided by the central government,” said the women’s panel chief Swati Maliwal, adding that the order for their opening has been issued by the state government.

The DCW chief has sha-red a detailed plan of action in this regard with Maneka Gandhi. “These centres will function as extension of DCW’s Crisis Intervention Cell and Rape Crisis Cell. With the help of ‘one-stop centre’, the DCW will be able to address issues of more victims in the city,” Ms Maliwal added.

The decision to open ‘one-stop centre’ was taken in a meeting held in August between chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union minister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi, in which Ms Maliwal was also present.

The Union government had approved the scheme for the establishment of one stop centres for women across the country last year. The scheme is being implemented across the country from April 1, 2015.

Under the scheme, medical aid, police assistance, legal counselling/ court case management, psycho-social counselling and temporary shelter to women affected by violence will be provided. Under the sche-me of one-stop centre, it has been envisaged to integrate these Centres with Women Helpline (181) and other existing helplines.