One Stop Centre Scheme (OSC) {वन स्टॉप सेंटर योजना}

Contents
  1. Overview
  2. The Objective
  3. Target Group under One Stop Center scheme
  4. Services Offered
  5. Implementing Agency
  6. Funds
  7. Frequently Asked Questions

The One Stop Centre Scheme is for women and it was implemented since 1st April 2015. The total fund allocated for this scheme is Rs. 18.58 under the Nirbhaya fund. The initial stage of the One Stop Centre scheme was to be launched in all states as well as UT and was approved for 36 locations out of which only 33 got sanctioned. And of all the approved for 36 locations, only 15 became operational till 30th May 2016. In the second phase of the scheme, 150 additional sites authorised as well as 36 centres already proposed in the first phase. The government has now planned to establish 660 centres.

Overview

  • One Stop Centre’s (OSC) are centres that are established by the Government of India with the help of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) to help women who are affected by the violence of any sort. 
  • The main motive of the One Stop Center scheme is to provide support and assistance to those women who are affected by violence at private or at any public place, irrespective of caste, class, religion, region, sexual orientation or marital status.
  • Under these centres, women can get immediate access to a range of services that includes medical, legal, psychological as well as counselling support to the victims.
  • The centres under OSC will support all those women and girls whose age is below 18 years and affected by violence.
  • This scheme is also for girls below 18 years of age, institutions as well as authorities established under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 will also be linked with the OSC. 
  • Along with this, a single uniform helpline number -181 will also be provided for a 24-hour emergency response to all women affected by violence, through referrals that are linking with appropriate authorities such as Police, OSC, or hospital.

The Objective

One Stop Centers (OSC) are established by the government of India to support women affected by violence, in private as well as public spaces, within the family, community, and also at the workplace. There are a lot of women in our country who are facing physical, sexual, emotional, psychological as well as economic abuse, irrespective of age, class, caste, education status, marital status, race and culture will be connected with support and redressed. The women who have reached out or been referred to the OSC will be able to get specialised services if she is facing any violence due to attempted sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, trafficking, honour-related crimes, acid attacks, or witch-hunting.

The main objectives of the One Stop Center scheme are mentioned below:

  • This scheme will help to provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence, both sectors as in private and public spaces under one roof.
  • To provide immediate, emergency as well as no - emergency access to a range of services that include medical, legal, psychological, and counselling support under one roof to fight against any forms of violence against women.

You will be able to find more details about this scheme on the official website.

Target Group under One Stop Center scheme

The One Stop Center scheme will support all women including girls who are below 18 years of age and affected by violence, irrespective of caste, class, religion, region, sexual orientation, or marital status.

Services Offered

The Centers which are integrated with a Women Helpline will facilitate access to the following services to women. The services that are provided by the One Stop Center scheme explained below:

Emergency Response and Rescue Services

Under OSC, a woman can get rescue and referral services who are affected by violence. To make success, this plan linkages will be developed with existing mechanisms such as the National Health Mission (NHM), 108 services, police (PCR Van). This will help those women who are affected by violence. Under this, the women who are affected by violence will be rescued from the location and referred to the nearest medical facility (Public or Private) or shelter home.

Medical assistance

Under this scheme, the women who are affected by violence would be referred to the nearest hospital for medical aid or examination. The medical aid or study would be undertaken as per the guidelines as well as protocols that are developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Assistance to women in lodging FIR /NCR/DIR

The women will be provided with a skilled counsellor and psychosocial counselling services that would be available on call. This counselling process will be provided to women to make them confident and support them to address violence or to seek fairness for the violence perpetrated. Counsellors that are allocated under this scheme shall follow a prescribed code of ethics, guidelines, and protocols while giving counselling services to women.

Legal aid and counselling 

To make easy access to justice for women who are affected by violence, legal assistance and advice would be provided at OSC with the help of empanelled Lawyers or the National/ State/District Legal Service Authority. The victim woman will be provided with an advocate of her choice if she wants to connect the same to help the State Prosecutors in trying her case. The entire responsibility is of the Lawyer or Prosecutor to make more straightforward legal procedures for the aggrieved woman as well as advocate for her exclusion from court hearings. If in any case the trial or inquiry relates to an offence of rape as distinct under section 376, 376A - D IPC, then it would be the responsibility of the Prosecutors trying the case to complete the query or trial as far as possible within two months from the date of filing of the charge sheet.

Shelter

The OSC will also provide temporary shelter facilities to distressed women. All the arrangements for long term shelter requirements will be made with Swadhar Greh/Short Stay Homes (managed/affiliated with government/NGO). The women who are affected by violence have children (girls of all ages and boys up till 8 years of age) who will also be able to get temporary shelter at the OSC for a maximum period of 5 days. The temporary refuge under this scheme will be provided to the women by the discretion of the Centre Administrator.

Video Conferencing Facility

OSC will provide video conferencing facilities to facilitate speedily and hassle-free police and court proceedings. The Video Conferencing Facility will be provided to the women through Skype, Google Conferencing, etc. With the help of this facility, if the aggrieved woman wants, she is also able to record her statement for police or courts from OSC itself using audio-video electronic means as approved under sections 161(3), 164(1) and 275(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and section 231(1) in line with Order XVIII Rule 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure. This facility will be provided to victim women only after consultation among Superintendent of Police, District as well as Sessions Judge of the concerned district (place of the incident).

Accessing One Stop Centre

A woman who is affected by violence can access OSC in the following manner:

  • By herself

  • With the help of any person including any public-spirited citizen, public servant (as defined under section 21 of Indian Penal Code, 1860), relative, friend, NGO, volunteer, etc. 

  • The women can also access through Women Helpline integrated with police, ambulance, and other emergency response helplines.

  • When the complaint is registered a text message (SMS or Internet) will be sent to the DPO/PO/ CDPO/ SHO/ DM/ SP/ DYSP /CMO /PO of the district/area as required.

  • When an aggrieved woman approaches the OSC for help either in person or if anybody approaches on her behalf, the case information will be fed into a system as per the approved format.

  • After this, a Unique ID Number will be generated.

Implementing Agency

The State Government/ UT Administration implemented the scheme one stop centre scheme.

Funds

The scheme will get funds through the Nirbhaya Fund. The Central Government will provide 100% financial support to the State Government and UT Administrations under the Scheme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which agency implemented the One Stop Centre Scheme?

The State Government/ UT Administration implemented the one stop centre scheme.

Q: Which mission’s sub-scheme is One Stop Centre Scheme?

One Stop Centre Scheme is a sub-scheme of the Umbrella Scheme for National Mission for Empowerment of women including Indira Gandhi Mattritav Sahyaog Yojana.

Q: What is another name of the One Stop Centre Scheme?

One Stop Centre Scheme is also known as Sakhi.

Q: Under which ministry One Stop Centre Scheme comes?

One Stop Centre Scheme comes under the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD).

Q: That is the motive of this scheme?

The OSC will support all women and also girls whose age is below 18 years and affected by violence, irrespective of caste, class, religion, region, sexual orientation, or marital status.

Q: How will this scheme get funds?

The scheme will get funded through the Nirbhaya Fund.

Q: What are the services offered in the One Stop Centre Scheme?

The following mentioned services are offered in the One Stop Centre Scheme:

  • Emergency response and rescue services

  • Medical assistance

  • Assistance to women in lodging the FIR

  • Psychosocial support and counselling

  • Legal aid and counselling

  • Shelter

  • Video conferencing facility.