Photos: Delhi’s first ‘one-stop’ centre for sexual assault victims at IHBAS

Eleven major hospitals in Delhi so far had a “stop-gap one-stop” centre for women victims of sexual assault or physical violence, which were essentially a separate room in the general or gynaecological emergency to provide privacy to the survivors. Such facilities did not have dedicated staff and had to draw from the hospital resources, lacking the kind of integrated support that is needed in such situations. A 10-bed residential dorm with counselling, legal and medical facilities named “Sakhi” was inaugurated on Wednesday in the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) in Shahdara as a “one-stop” centre to take care of a victim’s immediate requirement.

Updated on: Nov 29, 2019 2:15 PM IST

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Staff members at the city’s first full-fledged “one-stop” centre for women victims of sexual assault or physical violence that opened this week at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) in Shahdara, in New Delhi, on Wednesday, November 27, 2019. The centre “Sakhi” was inaugurated on Wednesday by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

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The “one-stop” centre aims to take care of a victim’s immediate requirement — a 10-bed residential dorm with counselling, legal and medical facilities. It is set up in one of IHBAS’s abandoned sections. So far, 11 major hospitals in Delhi had a “stop-gap one-stop” centre, which were essentially a separate room in the general or gynaecological emergency to provide privacy to the survivors. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

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Staff at the medical facilities section at the Sakhi Centre. An official from the ministry of women and child development, on condition of anonymity said that existing centres were set up after the December 16 rape case and were just rooms where assault survivors could be examined and provided treatment in some privacy. A lack of integrated support facilities led to an initiative towards the Sakhi Centre. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

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Existing facilities in the government hospitals did not have dedicated staff as well and had to draw from the hospital resources. “These centres at IHBAS will have trained social workers available round the clock. The residential facility will also ensure that they have a place to stay for a short duration of five days, long-term linkages to residential homes will be created,” said Dr Nimesh Desai, director, IHBAS. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

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Police personnel will also be present at all hours. The legal counsel will be present at the centre during the office hours to assist the women. The development and running of the facility will be funded by the union ministry of woman and child development through its Nirbhaya fund. The centre will be managed by the district magistrate’s office. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

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“IHBAS will act as the nodal agency for psychological component of the project in Delhi,” said Dr Desai. The Supreme Court last year in December directed that these centres providing integrated medical, phycological, police and legal support should be set up in each district in the country. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

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Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia interacts with the staff during the inauguration Sakhi Centre. Ten other centres like the one in IHBAS, located within a 2-km radius of big government hospitals will come up soon in Delhi and the existing centres within the hospitals will become satellite centres, the official. These centres will also be linked with the woman’s helpline number 181 for any assistance. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)