LG inaugurates 'One Stop Centre' for victims of sexual assault

New Delhi, Aug 28: Victims of sexual assault can now expect better medical facilities, psychological support, easier way to file police complaints and even legal assistance under one roof, with the Delhi Government today commissioning first of the many 'One Stop Centres' (OSCs) for such women.

The OSC at the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Mangolpuri was inaugurated by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, who said the facility has been set up so victims of rape and other sexual assaults could be offered treatment and other assistance in a sensitive manner.

"This place will provide all facilities so that the victim does not have to wander from the OPD to the emergency to any other ward. They will be treated with sensitivity keeping their state of trauma in mind," Jung said.

He said the sexual assault victims will be provided with all required treatments as well as counselling at the OSC. The victims will also be able to lodge police complaint at the Centre.

"This OSC has been set up with the objective of providing immediate help to rape victims in terms of medical facilities, registration of FIR and psychological support," he said.

Apart from this, legal advice would also be made available to the victims. The Women and Child Development Department will also offer the option of secure shelter to the victims at the OSC.

The establishment of OSCs was recommended by the Usha Mehra commission report which was constituted after the brutal Dec 16 gang rape in 2012. Sultanpuri's MLA Jai Kishen under whose assembly the hospital comes, informed the Lt Governor about various problems being faced by the hospital.

"I informed the LG about alleged corrupt practices in the hospital and requested him to improve its functioning," Kishan said.

PTI