Jharkhand will soon have a crisis management centre to deal with the cases of sexual assault on women. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS) and Social Welfare Department for developing the ‘One Stop Crisis Management System’ for rehabilitation of rape victims.
Citing details about the project, Director, Social Welfare Ravindra Prasad Singh said, “The Central Government has issued a fund of Rs10 lakh for the project. A meeting was conducted with RINPAS authorities and the proposal is almost ready. Since we already have the infrastructure ready at RINPAS, by January 2016, the crisis management centre will start functioning.”
“The purpose is to bring all the victims to the mainstream and we will provide counselling to victims as per requirement. We are starting the project on pilot basis in Ranchi and after its success we can also extend the centres in other districts too,” added Singh.
The State’s Social Welfare, Women and Child Development department has taken the initiative to launch the centre, with the support of RINPAS. The crisis management centre will provide counselling, treatment and rehabilitation to victims and will be functional at RINPAS premises.
“We have received the file and the matter is under consideration. Although we have one rehabilitation centre functioning inside the premises but after the establishment of one stop crisis management centre, we can provide much better assistance to the victims,” said RINPAS Director, Dr Jayati Simlai.
“With the support of the concerned department, the crisis management centre will provide all inclusive treatment to sexual assault victims, including counselling and psychotherapy, advocacy and accompanying services. However, we will require psychologists and doctors who are fit to treat such patients,” Simlai added.
In 2009, the Central Government had sent an advisory to all states and union territories on how to deal with sexual assault cases.