NEW DELHI: Concerned with the growing incidents of domestic violence against women in the last three years, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has decided to set up district-level Welfare Committees across the country to establish a mechanism of immediate assistance for the victims of domestic violence.
The Women Welfare Committees will act as a designated authority to help out women, who face assault or cruelty from their family members. Sources said that if a woman were in a state of distress, like she has been assaulted or thrown out of home, there is no designated agency which she can approach to get help.
While interacting live with users on Facebook, WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi on Monday said the ministry is setting up ‘One-stop Centres’ called ‘Sakhi’, which would play an active role in helping out women in trouble.
One-stop Centres will also be linked with the Committees. Since there will be only one such centre in each state and UT, they will invariably be located in the state capital. Since it will not be possible for all the women to reach there, the district-level Women Welfare Committees, which are more accessible and approachable to women, will perform the role. On the implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, Maneka said, “We get periodic reports from the states and work with the National Commission for Women and the police.”
The session evoked an overwhelming response and received over 700 questions.