97 women avail services of Sakhi centre in Nawanshahr

Tribune News Service

Nawanshahr, December 21

The one-stop centre, Sakhi, set up at the Civil Hospital here has proved to be a boon for the needy women as it has provided a healing touch to 97 victims of domestic violence, physical and mental harassment this year.

Chairing a meeting to review the working of the centre with CJM Harpreet Kaur, DPO Manjit Kaur, Civil Surgeon Dr RP Bhatia, DDPO Davinder Kumar and DSP Nirmal Singh, Deputy Commissioner Vinay Bublani said the centre had proved to be a boon for the women who were facing any kind of problem.

He said Sakhi, one-stop centre, offered an integrated range of services, including medical aid, police assistance, legal aid, case management and psychosocial counseling, to the women affected by violence, exploitation or any other problem.

The DC asked the DDPO to make panchayats aware of Sakhi’s working through BDPOs so that victims could approach the centre for help. It was shifted to a newly constructed building on January 26.

Of the 97 victims, 60 women have been provided with counselling. Besides, 25 victims have received free legal aid. The DC said the victims could approach the centre in person or over the phone.

Bublani said in case, the victim was a minor, cases were solved in coordination with authorities or institutions established under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act, 2012.

CJM Harpreet Kaur, who is also the secretary, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), said the DLSA had permanently appointed a para-legal volunteer here for day-to-day hearings of complaints with committee members. In case of seriousness of the complaint, the matter is forwarded to the DLSA for providing free legal aid, she added.

District Programme Officer Manjeet Kaur said the centre also provides a temporary shelter to the victim and their child, if any.