The One Stop Centre Scheme, a centrally funded initiative by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), addresses violence against women in India. As a subsidiary to the National Mission for Empowerment of Women, this scheme includes the Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahayog Yojana. The program aims to establish nationwide centres providing unified support and aid to women impacted by violence in both private and public domains.
Funding and Auditing
Funded through the Nirbhaya Fund, the central government provides complete financial assistance to state governments and Union Territories Administrations under this scheme. Audits will be conducted in compliance with the Comptroller & Auditor General of India standards, with social audits undertaken by civil society groups also incorporated into the system.
Provided Services
These integrated one-stop centres will work hand in hand with women helplines to offer comprehensive services such as emergency response and rescue services, medical assistance, and help with lodging FIRs. Additionally, psycho-social support, counselling, legal aid, shelter, and video conferencing facilities will be provided.
Background and the Creation of the ‘Nirbhaya Fund’
The ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ was established with the focus on strategic areas of prevention, protection, and rehabilitation pertaining to women’s safety. Recommendations for setting up a one-stop crisis centre were made by the 12th Plan Working Group on Women’s Agency and Empowerment and Usha Mehra Commission. The idea was to create a “one-stop centre” to aid victims of sexual assault and ensure quick punitive measures for offenders.
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| Nirbhaya Fund | Non-lapsable fund for safety and security of women administered by Department of Economic Affairs. |
| Utilization | Can be utilized for projects and initiatives related to women safety. |
Underlying Need for the Scheme: Addressing Gender-Based Violence
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a pervasive issue that goes beyond geography, culture, age, race, and social status, affecting communities globally. In India, GBV takes many forms including domestic and sexual violence, harmful practices such as dowry, honour killings, acid attacks, witch-hunting, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse, trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation, child marriage, sex selective abortion, sati, and more. The country also grapples with violence emanating from social life disparities, notably during displacement and communal incidents. The One Stop Centre Scheme, therefore, serves a critical need in addressing and mitigating these issues on a national scale.
