One Stop Centre for victims of domestic violence soon

For the first time in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States, the Central government is setting up a ‘One Stop Centre’ for women victims of atrocity and harassment.

The centre comprises an inpatient ward, counselling facility and a short stay home with the required number of staffers. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is likely to inaugurate the facility on ‘Rakhi Pournami’, which falls on August 29.

The centre, sanctioned by the Ministry of Women and Child Department, will provide counselling to victims of sexual assault, dowry harassment, domestic violence and harassment at work places.

“The hospital-cum-counselling centre is being set up as a pilot project in Krishna district. Both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States had applied for the centre, but the Ministry sanctioned the facility for AP,” said Krishna District Women Development and Child Welfare PD K. Krishna Kumari.

“Recently, the Government of India had sought a report on the number of sexual assault, harassment and domestic violence cases reported in the district and proposals for sanctioning the centre. Responding to the instructions, we submitted a report with all details,” said the PD.

The centre will be set up on the Raja Saheb Maternity Hospital premises at Kothapet involving an expenditure of Rs. 13 lakh. The management committee will recruit staff for running the centre soon, she added.

“The Central government has allotted Rs. 5 lakh for the building, and one Resident Administrative Officer will man the centre. Besides, one Police Facilitation Officer, case workers, IT staff, multi-purpose helpers and security staff will be appointed by the committee, headed by the District Collector,” Ms. Krishna Kumari said.

The management of Raja Saheb Hospital, which is part of the management committee, will provide medical officers and drugs, she added.

The Krishna district authorities had received as many as 4,210 domestic violence petitions from 2006 to 2015. Of them, 965 cases were settled, while 394 were disposed of in courts. As many as 39 are pending trial, and 1,558 petitions were closed or withdrawn, officials said.

The centre, a pilot project, will be opened by CM on August 29