Sakhi One Stop Centres: How women in distress can access five services under one roof

Sakhi One Stop Centres provide five essential services to women facing violence. The integrated system makes crisis support easier to access through centres and helplines.

In Short

• The scheme began in 2015 under Mission Shakti's Sambal sub-scheme
• Police assistance helps survivors navigate the process of registering complaints
• District hospitals coordinate medical care, while women receive legal guidance

Women facing violence often have to approach multiple agencies for help, from police stations and hospitals to lawyers and shelters. Sakhi One Stop Centres (OSCs) aim to make that process easier by bringing essential support services together under one roof.

The One Stop Centre scheme came into effect on April 1, 2015, and is now part of the Sambal sub-scheme under the central government’s Mission Shakti. It provides support to women affected by violence in both private and public spaces.

A parliamentary reply dated December 16, 2022, confirmed that Uttar Pradesh had 75 One Stop Centres, with one in each district.

Five services available under one roof

The centres offer five key services to women in distress. Police assistance helps women with the process of registering a complaint, while medical support is coordinated with the district hospital. Women can also access legal aid and advice on available remedies.

The centres provide psycho-social counselling, including initial and ongoing support, as well as temporary shelter for up to five days. Women who need longer-term accommodation can be referred to other facilities where required.

How to reach a Sakhi One Stop Centre

Women can visit the One Stop Centre in their district or call the Women Helpline at 181, which connects callers to the nearest centre. In Uttar Pradesh, they can also contact the Women Power Line at 1090 or call 112 for emergency assistance.

The Mission Shakti portal also provides an OSC locator that lists centres by state and district.

How many cases have the centres handled?

A Lok Sabha reply from March 2021 recorded around 1.46 lakh cases handled by Uttar Pradesh’s One Stop Centres. This is a cumulative figure reported at that time and does not reflect the latest total.

Why the centres matter

For women facing violence, finding the right place to seek help can be a major hurdle. By bringing police support, medical care, legal guidance, counselling and temporary shelter together, Sakhi One Stop Centres aim to make assistance easier to access at a time of crisis.

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