One stop crisis centre to help women fight abuse

15-year-old Malini (name changed), who had turned a recluse after being raped and abused for two years by her 38-year-old neighbour, will now no longer have to hide her scars. A source of relief for Malini and other survivours like her is the newly-launched crisis centre, that will address the various issues of abuse victims.

Gauravi, the crisis centre housed in Bhopal's JP hospital, or 1250 Hospital as it is popularly known, will provide victims with a four-step recovery assistance. The crisis centre was launched by ActionAid in a joint collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh state department of health and family welfare on Monday. "There will be counsellors who will emotionally and psychologically help the victims. There are female police officers of inspector rank, who will lodge the FIR. Legal officers present in the centre will help the victim make an informed choice by providing them with legal assistance. Finally, a safety plan will help them stay away from further abuse," said Sarika Sinha, Madhya Pradesh regional manager of ActionAid, adding that the Women's Right to Resource Centre at ActionAid has received 94 complaints of rape since January in Madhya Pradesh alone.

Malini had made a habit of hiding herself. She would barely step out of the house and at times when she did, she would dress in a way that shrouded most of her. The teenager from Bhopal, who lived with her grandparents, was so terrified of the abuse that continued for two years thereafter that she withdrew into a shell. When there came a point she could no longer take it, Malini came out to her parents who were living in Punjab.

"She was so terrified when we first met her. We have been helping her pursue a legal case against the accused since. The first day when she entered the court, the accused brought along with him 30 people, who jeered at her. When she would step out, neighbours would jibe her and say, 'She hadn't had enough that she's stepping ou in jeans'," says Sinha.

Malini and many survivors of abuse were felicitated at the launch by actor Aamir Khan, who had spoken about the need of a crisis centre on his TV show Satyamev Jayate, and had campaigned about the issue, was present to felicitate Malini and other survivours. The centre also launched a toll-free helpline number (18002332244) for women. On the first day, the centre received 100 calls.

The Justice Verma Committee formed after the gruesome December 16 gang-rape and murder of a paramedical student, that led to the amendment of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, had also suggested the formation of One Stop Crisis Centres (OSCC) across the country.

The Bhopal centre is modelled on 'Dilasaa', similar hospital-based Mumbai crisis centres that address victims of gender-based violence which is run by Mumbai-based NGO Centre for enquiry Health and Allied Themes (CEHAT) along with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumabi. "We have two centres in Mumbai -- at Bandra Bhaba Hospital and Kurla Bhaba Hospital -- and have been helping victims cope up with abuse emotionally, physically, legally and financially," says Padma Bhate-Deosthali, director of Cehat. With their expertise on domestic violence and health issues, Cehat helped ActionAid and the Madhya Pradesh government. "We knew how to handle victims of violence, but CEHAT's assistance on health issues were crucial. Many doctors here did not have any idea of the new protocols for doctors laid by the health ministry. When women come to a hospital for a black eye and say that they fell off the stairs, doctors can now direct them to us," said Sinha.