Ladakh records decline in women seeking help for domestic violence
Sajid Raina
New Delhi, Apr 04 :
The One Stop Centres (OSCs) in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have provided assistance to a significant number of women affected by domestic violence over the past three years.
According to data provided by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, 1,544 women in Jammu & Kashmir sought refuge at OSCs in 2021-22.
The number, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) increased to 2,482 in 2022-23 and slightly declined to 2,374 in 2023-24. In Ladakh, 26 women were assisted in 2021-22, 19 in 2022-23, and 17 in 2023-24.
Notably, the OSCs offer immediate support to survivors, including medical assistance, legal aid, police intervention, temporary shelter, and psychological counseling. Survivors can stay at the centers for up to five days, with an extension of up to 10 days in certain cases.
“Further extensions require approval from district authorities. Efforts are made to relocate survivors to long-term shelters such as Shakti Sadans when necessary,” the government said, adding that it has taken several measures to assist domestic violence survivors in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh through the One Stop Centres (OSCs) and related initiatives including OSCs provide medical aid, legal assistance, police intervention, psychological counseling, and temporary shelter to survivors.
“Survivors receive legal guidance and support to ensure protection under the law and assistance in pursuing justice.
Psycho-social counseling is provided to help survivors cope with trauma and regain stability,” it said.
Government programs facilitate skill development and employment opportunities to help survivors achieve financial independence—(KNO)