Think tank wants 'one-stop' women protection centres

Think tank Centre for Social Research (CSR) Wednesday urged the government to create "one-stop women protection centres" across the country, where victims get complete relief and are not sent away to different locations.

It said the government funds meant for women and lying neglected should be used to set up these protection centres in the 100 most violence-prone districts.

"Several central government funds earmarked for women and child development are gathering dust. The government must at least ensure that the Nirbhaya Fund is effectively utilised by setting up one-stop women protection centres where victims can seek complete relief in all forms and are not sent away to different locations and agencies to fend for themselves," said CSR director Ranjana Kumari.

Women protection centres were described by the think tank as safe spaces for women where temporary shelter, free legal aid, medical relief and psycho-social counselling services are provided to women in distress.

"These are meant to serve as a single window system for resolving all cases of violence against women," she said.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 2,44,270 incidents of crime against women were reported in the country in 2012 as compared to 2,28,650 in 2011 - an increase of 6.4 percent in 2012 and 24.7 percent over the year 2008.

These crimes have continuously increased during 2008-2012, with 1,95,856 cases in 2008.

Further, 36,622 cases of crimes against women were reported from 53 major cities of India during 2012, compared to 33,789 cases in 2011.

Some of the most unsafe cities for women were Delhi - which ranks first in the list of 35 cities reporting the highest number of rape cases (514 rape cases in 2011), Gurgaon, Hyderabad (with 157 cases of molestation in 2011), Bangalore and Kolkata, it said.