On March 5, a 24-year-old mentally disturbed woman, reportedly hailing from Kalgurki village of Basavanabagewadi taluk, was brought by an NGO to the Special Treatment Unit for Women set up inside the District Hospital here. The doctor discovered that the woman, who appeared to be destitute, is about two months pregnant. It did not take time for the doctors to conclude that the woman probably was raped. “A case is filed in Jal Nagar police station. The investigation is under way,” said Sanjota Patil, the counsellor of the unit. She said that after the opening of the unit on November 1 last year, it has registered nine such cases of atrocities against women and girls of below eight years. The government established the special units in each district hospital of the State with an objective of providing help to victims of sexual harassment.
The unit, which is operated with the joint efforts of District Hospital, Women and Child Welfare Department and Police, is completely run by women for women.
“The unit has counsellors, doctors, the police and even advocates to take up legal issues. All staff members are women. The reason is that the victim can share her agony and trauma without any hesitation, which not only helps in building strong case against the culprits, but more importantly, the presence of women gives moral strength to the victim,” said Ms. Patil.
She said that people could call the toll-free number 181 anytime for help. “If the patient is not in a position to come to the hospital, then we send our staff to the patient for treatment and counselling,” she said. Ms. Patil said that the centre also provide accommodation to victims if they needed it.