Sakhi: The one-stop centre to provide support to women of sexual violence in Tezpur

A Correspondent

Tezpur: Sakhi, a one-stop centre to provide integrated support and assistance under one roof for women affected by sexual and physical violence, was inaugurated at Vidya Mandir building at Dhanua Nagar, Morabharalipar in Tezpur on Saturday. A toll free number 181 has also been made available for women in distress.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Kulen Sarma formally inaugurated the centre at a meeting attended by Assistant Research Officer, Directorate of Social Welfare, Mandira Baruah and Centre Coordinator, 181 Helpline, Nilakshi Sarma, secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Asma Rahman, Joint Director, Health Services, Dr. Krishna Kemprai, Divisional Welfare Officer and i/c DSWO, Samsera Hazarika, and other dignitaries.

The one-stop centre has been set up by Sonitpur district administration and the social welfare department to provide integrated services of medical and legal aid and guidance on the procedure of registering police complaints, along with psycho-social counseling and temporary shelter to women who have been victims of sexual or physical violence.

Addressing the gathering, Additional Deputy Commissioner Kulen Sarma said the one-stop centre was the need of the hour and would go a long way in providing support services for survivors of rape, domestic violence, acid attack victims and trafficking victims.

The scheme is centrally sponsored by the Ministry of Women and Child Development under the National Mission for Empowerment of Women. Under the scheme, similar centres have been opened in each district in all the States of the country.

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