In a significant move to bolster support systems for women in distress, the district of Bhagalpur in Bihar is set to inaugurate its second One Stop Centre (OSC). This new facility, to be established at the Kahalgaon sub-divisional hospital, is a crucial component of the Mission Shakti initiative spearheaded by the Women & Child Development Corporation (WCDC).
Expanding Critical Support for Women
The upcoming centre in Kahalgaon will function as a comprehensive hub, mirroring the services of the first OSC located at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JLNMCH). Its primary objective is to provide an integrated range of essential services under a single roof. This initiative is specifically designed to aid women, including survivors of violence from both public and private spheres, in the eastern, more rural parts of the Bhagalpur district.
The integrated services will include medical assistance, legal aid, police facilitation, temporary shelter, and vital psycho-social counselling. This multi-dimensional approach aims to address the immediate and long-term needs of women in crisis, ensuring they do not have to navigate multiple government departments during a vulnerable time.
Site Selection and Official Guidelines
A dedicated team of officials recently conducted a site inspection to finalize the location for the new OSC. This team comprised members from the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) district unit, the WCDC, block development officials, health department personnel, and gender specialists. Their visit to the Kahalgaon block and the hospital premises was aimed at identifying a suitable spot that adheres to the central government's guidelines.
Anupama Kumari, the District Program Officer for ICDS in Bhagalpur, emphasized the necessity of this second centre. She stated that it is essential for delivering consolidated support to women affected by violence. She clarified that the OSC is a central government-sponsored scheme under the ministry of women and child development, designed to offer a lifeline to those in distress.
Echoing the procedural requirements, Tabrez Khan, the District Mission Coordinator for WCDC, highlighted the ministry's mandate. The OSC must be established either within a hospital campus or within a 2-kilometer radius of one. Furthermore, the centre requires a carpet area of approximately 132 square metres within an existing government building or a 300 square metre plot of land in the hospital's vicinity.
A National Mission with Local Impact
Nagendra Gupta, the Joint Director of IPRD, shed light on the broader impact of the One Stop Centre scheme. He pointed out the urgent need for the Kahalgaon OSC to provide both emergency response and rescue services, as well as non-emergency assistance. Across the nation, operational OSCs have already provided assistance to a staggering 12,20,589 distressed women, showcasing the critical role these centres play in the social safety net.
The establishment of Bhagalpur's second OSC represents a concrete step towards strengthening women's safety and empowerment at the grassroots level. By bringing essential services closer to women in semi-urban and rural areas, the initiative under Mission Shakti promises to be a beacon of hope and practical support for countless individuals.
