More than 300 One-Stop Centers Would Open Soon to Help Women Afflicted by Violence: Smriti Irani

By: WE Staff | Wednesday, 13 April 2022

Smriti Irani, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, announced  that 300 new One Stop Centres (OSCs) will be opened across the country soon to help women who have been victims of abuse.

Women's health and empowerment, she noted, have become ingrained in the central government's programmes and policies.

The minister said 704 One Stop Centres are currently operational in the country, and 70 lakh women in distress have received support from governments – both the Centre and states together – during a zonal summit of states and diverse stakeholders from the western region in Mumbai.

“Three hundred more One Stop Centres would be opened soon,” she said.

One Stop Centres (OSCs), which were established under a scheme announced by the Women and Child Development Ministry, are designed to assist women who have been victims of violence in private and public settings, as well as in the home, community, and at work.

Various projects worth Rs 9,000 crore were done for the safety and security of women between 2014 and 21 through the Nirbhaya Fund, according to the minister.

Irani stated that women's health and empowerment have become a vital element of government programmes and policies, emphasising that the Centre is committed to protecting women's self-respect by using a multi-sectoral approach to tackling difficulties they confront.

The conference focused on three essential topics: 'Mission Poshan 2.0,' which deals with women's and children's nutrition, 'Mission Shakti,' which deals with women's protection and security, and 'Mission Vatsalya,' which aims to ensure that every kid has a happy and healthy childhood.

Irani stated that the provision for women-related programmes has increased by 14% in the Union Budget for 2022-23, which was tabled in February.

"Women in our country have been allotted Rs 1.71 lakh crore in the Union Budget for 2022-23. "We are the first government and country to include a gender component in our intergovernmental budgetary transfers," she continued.

According to the minister, the Swachch Bharat Mission has resulted in the construction of nearly 11 lakh toilets, ensuring that every woman's day begins with cleanliness.

Irani went on to say that within a year, separate bathrooms for girls had been created in over 4 lakh government schools. Previously, the dropout rate of female students was as high as 23% due to the lack of separate restrooms.

According to the minister, Ayushman Bharat, the government's flagship scheme, has increased healthcare coverage across the country and attracted 45 million women.

“Initially, it was said that women, because of socio-cultural constraints, would not come forward for treatment of breast cancer or cervical cancer etc. But the skeptics have been proven wrong and nearly 7 crore women have got themselves screened and those in need of medical care are undergoing treatment,” she said.