In reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on 11 December 2024, the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur informed that as on date, out of the approved 878 One Stop Centres (OSCs), 802 OSCs are operational across the country and over 10.12 lakh women have been assisted till 31st October 2024.
The One Stop Centre (OSC), under the umbrella Mission Shakti, provides integrated support and assistance under the one roof to women affected by violence and those in distress, both in private and public spaces. It provides services like medical aid, legal aid and advice, temporary shelter, police assistance and psycho-social counselling to needy women.
Further, the MoS informed that as on date, 404 Shakti Sadans are operational across the country and presently, 29,315 women have been supported/rehabilitated. Shakti Sadan is an Integrated Relief and Rehabilitation Home for women in distress situations including trafficked women. It aims at creating a safe and enabling environment for the women in distress situations, to enable them to overcome the difficult circumstances.
As per the Mission Shakti guidelines, the Central Government provides 100% financial assistance to States/ UTs for appointment/hiring 13 manpower resources per One Stop Centre (OSC). The overall implementation of the OSC scheme lies with the State Governments/UT Administrations, she stated.
Replying to another question in the Rajya Sabha, Savitri Thakur informed that 81.64 lakh women have been assisted since the inception of the Women Helpline (WHL) scheme on 1st April 2015.
She said that presently, WHL is functional in 35 States/ UTs (Government of West Bengal is not implementing WHL) and it aims to provide 24x7x365 emergency and non-emergency response through telephonic short-code 181 to women, both in public and private spaces by linking them with appropriate authorities such as Police, One Stop Centres, Hospitals, Legal Services Authorities etc. Additionally, it provides information about women welfare schemes and programs.
