The One Stop Crisis Centre-‘Sakhi’ inaugurated a year back at Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS) here is lying defunct. The centre was started with a vision to provide free legal consultation, immediate medical attention besides, instant counseling to women in distress at RINPAS is hanging in the balance.
A reality check by this correspondent found that the phone number service (0651-2451911) launched a year back for assistance as centre’s core component was non-functional. Despite repeated attempts none of the coordinators at ‘Sakhi’ could be contacted.
RINPAS Director Subhash Soren appeared clueless when enquired about the total number of cases registered so far at this assistance centre predominately designed for women in need for providing instant support to rape survivors, sexual assault victims and women fighting against other atrocities.
“The records are maintained by other officials. I will ask the coordinators of the centre about the status of toll-free number and cases registered so far. At times, when fund is not allotted on time, the work comes at halt.
Till March 2018, we have enough fund to run the centre,” said Soren. Ironically, the Director failed to cite the present strength of staffs lending their services at this major unit.
Inaugurated on December 14, 2016, the One Stop Crisis Centre’s services included emergency help line number, preliminary medical aid, FIR registration, counseling by expert panels, legal aid and proper arrangement for a short stay (5 days). For curbing gender based violence and assisting females in time of distress the centre is yet to appoint resource personnel for different posts for expanding its services.
Besides Ranchi, One Stop Crisis Centre has been started at Dhanbad and Jamshedpur too. The Department of Women, Child Development and Social Welfare is bearing the cost of operation of these centers. A full-fledged technical set-up has been ensured at all these specialized centres with a provision of registering the cases under 30 categorized offences.
Notably, Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani had also raised the question on March 8 about setting up of One Stop Crisis Center across the country. The Central Government report suggests in Jharkhand, three such One Stop Crisis Centres for women have been started with financial assistance of Rs 85.55 lakh in the last three years.
Department of Women, Child Development and Social Welfare, Special Secretary, DK Saxena said that attempts are being made to both improve and expand the services at One Stop Crisis Centres functioning across the State. Unaware about the status of RINPAS- Sakhi, Saxena added, “District Social Welfare Officers (DSWO) has been ordered to prepare a detailed report of One Stop Crisis Centers. Attempts are being made to improve and expand its services. Based on DSWOs report, a few specialized centres are in the offing in other districts too.”