Around 35km from the city’s centre & fenced off inside a residential colony in Tambaram, is Tamil Nadu’s 1st & Chennai’s only One-Stop Centre (OSC). Started by the ministry of women & child development in the aftermath of the 2012 Delhi gangrape & murder, the centre was envisioned as a single-window documentation & redressal system for women facing violence. The idea was to provide medical & legal aid, police assistance, psychological support & counselling.
However, it was only after she knocked the doors of every other agency that 56-year-old Bhanu*, was referred to the One-Stop Centre (OSC) to investigate into the domestic violence her daughter was facing at her in-laws’. “The stakeholders are not aware that we exist,” says the centre’s administrator Auxilia Christina.
More than 2 years after its inception, the One-Stop Centre (OSC) is being run by less than half its designated staff strength. On Aug 28, the Madras HC pulled up 17 out of 32 One-Stop Centre (OSC)s in the state that haven't finalised recruitment processes. It directed collectors to finalise the selection & issue appointment orders within one month.
According to One-Stop Centre (OSC) guidelines, a police facilitation officer, paralegal & paramedical personnel, counsellor & security/night guard must be stationed at the centre. But these posts have remained vacant. Christina, a residential staff attached to the One-Stop Centre (OSC), is among 4 others including the case worker, IT staff & multipurpose worker, on board full-time.
“When we accompanied Bhanu to her daughter, we had to contact the special cell for women for protection as the in-laws of the girl threatened us. We wish we had better police & legal protection,” says Christina.
Absence of specialised resource people has affected case resolution. Of the 328 cases received, 152 were of domestic violence. The centre outsources legal advice to an advocate, but the absence of ready & speedy assistance hampers operations.
29 year-old mother of 2 Dharini*, for instance, was married as a minor, & therefore does not have documents needed to opt out. She needs protection & compensation from her husband who she alleges is a drunkard & has been assaulting her & her daughters. But considering the legal complications of separation, the One-Stop Centre (OSC) staff have been of little help, save offer her shelter & counselling sessions for the couple.
“In the 1st year that we set up, we received 45 cases, out of which 3 were referred to us by police,” says Christina. But the following years saw an increase in referrals after staff members, with help from the Commissionerate of Social Welfare, conducted awareness programmes. But these added further strain to the understaffed workforce.
Chennai collector R Seethalakshmi said that at a review meeting held last week she had ordered for letters to be sent to concerned govt depts. to rope in paralegal, paramedical & police personnel on deputation at the One-Stop Centre (OSC). “I’ve taken over 2 months ago & we are trying to ensure smooth functioning of the centre,” she said.
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