An awareness programme on the service rendered by the Sakhi-One Stop Centre was today organised by the One Stop Centre (OSC) in collaboration with the District Social Welfare Department (DSWO), South West Khasi Hills District, at the Mawkyrwat community hall.
WPSI from the Women’s Police Cell, Mawkyrwat, M. Arengh spoke on the topic “Role of Police in combating crime against women and Children”. She said that several crimes against women and children go unreported and because of that the government and Supreme Court recognized that they need special protection. She added that crimes like kidnapping, dowry, domestic violence, molestation, rape etc are prevalent because of illiteracy, stigmatization in society, fear and lack protection.
Arengh urged participants that any crimes against women should be reported to the women police station or any police station and register case under section 154 of CrPC, 122 of POSCO Act or IPC in order to curb the atrocities against women and children while adding that society, NGOs, government officials should give sympathetic attitude towards them and make sincere efforts to help them.
She informed that the police department will give them medical treatment, will register FIRs, will provide safety and security, will assist women and children through their VDP volunteers so that women, boy and girl child and oppressed sections in society will feel safe.
Arengh also briefed the gatherings about POSCO Act, Juvenile Justice Act, sections under Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sexual Harassment Act at work place and Domestic Violence Act to protect women and children.
She further urged participants to collaborate with the police department by informing them about any societal evils against women and children.
Panel lawyer of the District Legal Service Authority (DLSA), N Hashah spoke on “Laws and the legal aid services applicable to women and children.”
Informing that Article 15 clause 3 of the Indian Constitution provides special provisions to protect women and children she said that the DLSA provide free legal aid services to women, children and people who are not able to get legal aid besides helping with several schemes for women, children and victim compensation schemes because of sexual assault, harassment by initiating claims after proper assessments. She added that the need for free legal aid services is to help people to fight for justice as per their rights for both civil and criminal cases.
District Social Welfare Officer, N. Umdor, spoke about the OSC saying that it is a blessing to the district where women and children under can get integrated support and assistance for any violence in both private and public places, within the family, community and at the workplace. She added that OSC is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) which provide emergency response and rescue services, medical assistance, assistance to women in lodging the FIR, psycho- social support and counselling, legal aid and counselling, shelter and video conferencing facilities. She urged people and anganwadi workers to be ambassadors to direct people to go to OSC or use the State Helpline Number 181 to protect women and promote social and economic empowerment.
