20 out of 183 One Stop Centres set up under Nirbhaya Fund: Govt

NEW DELHI: Out of the 183 One Stop Centres (OSCs) announced by the Central government under Nirbhaya Fund in April 2015, a mere 20 such centres have been set up.

Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha today, Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi said, "20 OSCs under NIrbahya Fund have become operational so far."

The setting up of One Stop Centres under Nirbhaya Fund was announced in two phases. In the first phase launched on April 1, 2015, 33 OSCs had to be set up across the country. The second phase was launched on May 31, 2016 and envisaged setting up of another 150 OSCs in 2016-2017.

As per sources, the Ministry for Women and Child Development had approved funds for 82 such centres till August, 2016.

A statement placed before the Parliament during the Monsoon session in July had claimed that a total of 689 women had approached such centres for help.

The One Stop Centre scheme aims to facilitate access to an integrated range of services including medical aid, police assistance, legal aid and psycho-social counselling to women affected by violence, including sexual assault.

The government has allocated Rs 119.71 crore for this scheme under the Nirbhaya fund, which was set up in the aftermath of the December 2012 gangrape incident in the national capital.