(Jagdish Thind)
Fazilka, April 25, 2019: Established with the tireless efforts of the Deputy Commissioner Mr. Manpreet Singh Chhatwal, the One Stop Sakhi Center in Fazilka is proving a ray of hope for all age women, who are victim of sexual harassment, acid attack, human trafficking and domestic violence.
Elaborating more, the Deputy Commissioner Mr. Chhatwal said that aggrieved women facing any kind of violence due to attempted sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, trafficking, honor related crimes, acid attacks or witch-hunting, who have reached or been referred to this center at civil hospital Fazilka, are being provided with specialized services like; immediate legal, medical, police assistance besides psychological counseling. "5-member dedicated staff has been appointed, which included Center In-charge, Para legal lawyer, Helpline Operator and 2 co-workers." he said adding that arrangements have also been made to build confidence among victims so that they could be ready to take justice. Deputy Commissioner further said that this center has been established in collaboration with the Women and Child Development Department, in which women victims are getting all kind of help as per their need under one roof.
He said that the main purpose to the launch this center is to prevent any kind of violence against women and to provide them immediate assistance. Moreover, the cases of domestic violence are also resolved with the mutual consent so that women could get due respect.
Mr. Chhatwal said that victim herself or by sending someone known, could register complaint of the crime, after which the staff of the center would immediately contact the civil, police and judicial administration of the district to provide instant assistance to victims.
Deputy Commissioner said that the One Stop Center would provide support to all women including girls below 18 years of age affected by violence, irrespective of caste, class, religion, region, sexual orientation or marital status. He said that the victim could stay up to 5 days in the center with her any age of girl and 8 years of boy and would be given all facilities including food. He said that if shelter is needed for longer period, the arrangements to send the victim to government or non-government shelter homes would also be done. He said that expansion work of the center would be started soon.
Mr. Chhatwal said that victims are also sanitizing about their legal rights. He appealed to the public that if they found any women victim around them or want to provide assistance to any victim of violence, they can directly report to the office of One Stop Sakhi Center, Room No. 2 at Civil Hospital, Fazilka or may contact on helpline number 01638-260181.