There is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for rape victims. To ensure that accessing police and medical help does not turn out to be a nightmarish experience for them, the State government is in the process of setting up round-the-clock Women’s Special Aid Units. These units will not only provide medical, legal and police aid under one roof, but will also follow certain protocols that lay stress on being sensitive to their plight.
These units, which would be set up at all 30 district government hospitals in the State, besides five medical institutes in Bangalore, will give importance to protecting the honour and privacy of victims during the medical, police and legal aid process, according to Minister of State for Woman and Child Welfare Umashree.
Addressing a joint press conference with Health Minister U.T. Khader on Thursday, Ms. Umashree said the notification regarding setting up of such units, which was envisaged in the State Budget, had been issued recently.
ADVERTISEMENT
The proposed units would have two medical officers and four nurses attached to the hospital concerned; a woman police officer from the jurisdictional police station; a counsellor, two legal advisers and three social workers, besides the cleanliness staff, she said. The units would not only have help desks, but also train the entire staff of the hospital on the protocols to be followed while dealing with victims of sexual assault.
Mr. Khader said the intention of the government was to put in place a model system and protocol to provide justice to victims of sexual assault.