Indian Govt Approves 9 Overseas Centres For Distressed Women

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Friday, 12 June 2026

In a significant move to strengthen support for Indian women living overseas, the Government of India has approved the establishment of nine One Stop Centres (OSCs) across key international locations. The initiative aims to provide timely assistance, counselling, legal support, and emergency services to Indian women facing distress abroad. The announcement was made by Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

The newly approved centres are expected to extend the reach of India's women's welfare framework beyond national borders, ensuring that vulnerable Indian women have access to essential support services when faced with abuse, abandonment, exploitation, or other difficult circumstances while residing overseas.

Key Highlights

• Nine One Stop Centres approved for distressed Indian women abroad
• Seven centres will offer shelter facilities in Gulf countries
• Dedicated budget allocated through Indian missions overseas

According to the government, seven of the nine OSCs will include shelter homes and will be established in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, with separate centres planned in Jeddah and Riyadh. The remaining two centres, located in Toronto and Singapore, will operate without shelter facilities but will continue to provide other critical support services.

The Ministry of External Affairs has created a dedicated budget provision for these nine missions to facilitate the implementation and operation of the centres. The proposal received approval from the relevant authorities, highlighting the government's commitment to protecting Indian women living and working abroad.

The centres are expected to offer a broad range of services under a coordinated support system. Women facing domestic violence, family disputes, abandonment, workplace exploitation, legal difficulties, or emotional distress will be able to access counselling, legal guidance, and psychosocial support. Emergency assistance and referrals to appropriate services will also form a key part of the centres' responsibilities.

Each facility will be managed by a woman-centred administrator who will oversee operations and ensure that assistance is delivered in a safe, dignified, and beneficiary-focused manner. The centres are also expected to work closely with empanelled non-governmental organisations and support networks to provide comprehensive care.

The initiative will complement the existing Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), which operates through Indian missions and consular posts worldwide. Established to assist overseas Indians in distress, the fund covers a wide range of emergency welfare measures, including temporary accommodation, air travel support, legal aid, and emergency medical care.

Government officials noted that the ICWF guidelines were revised extensively in 2017, significantly expanding the scope of assistance available to Indian nationals abroad. Particular attention was given to the challenges faced by women, including those abandoned by overseas spouses or caught in legal and family disputes in foreign countries. The fund also supports counselling services and legal assistance through dedicated panels in nations with large Indian communities.

The selection of Gulf countries for the majority of the centres reflects the substantial presence of Indian migrant workers in the region, many of whom may face social, legal, or employment-related vulnerabilities. Toronto and Singapore were chosen due to their large Indian diaspora populations and the growing need for support mechanisms in those locations.