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Govt dept formulates standard procedure to help women in distress

By MAMATA MISHRA

GUWAHATI, May 25 - To end the lack of clarity amongst institutions and government agencies while responding to calls from women in distress during lockdown, the State Department of Social Welfare has formulated a standard operating procedure (SOP) so that timely help can reach every woman facing violence or domestic abuse.

The broad spectrum of the SOP addresses issues like ensuring that suitable shelters for women in need are not denied under any circumstances, arrangement for COVID-19 screening is done for such women, and proper coordination is made regarding shelter and healthcare needs of women having mental health issues among departments and their agencies.

It needs mention here that The Assam Tribune had reported the case of a hapless woman on May 10 highlighting poor distress response mechanism in the State amid the COVID-induced crisis, including a conspicuous lack of clarity among the responders while dealing with such situations.

Moreover, a number of other cases had come into light where the women were subjected to domestic violence, mental torture, etc., due to the lockdown. Prominent women�s rights group North East Network had also taken up the matter of the increasing number of domestic abuse cases during the lockdown, with the Government of Assam seeking immediate intervention of the authorities.

Under the new guidelines, while the 181 women helpline (WHL) will continue to register calls from women facing violence or from women in distress, it will seek police assistance if required and keep on raising the issue at the DSP, Additional SP or SP-level till proper action is initiated.

On the other hand, the SOP clearly mentions that the management of One Stop Centre (OSCs) shall not have the liberty to deny accommodation as per request of 181-WHL if beds are available and if screening of the woman concerned has already been done.

The managements of Swadhar Grehs, shelter homes, destitute homes and Ujjwala homes will also have to comply with requests from 181-WHL for accommodation of women in distress during emergency.

�Any�refusal shall be brought to the notice of the district social welfare officer and the ADC in charge of social welfare, who will�recommend appropriate administrative action against defaulters,� the SOP mentioned.

To make the process smoother, the 181 helpline has been asked to develop a software application to obtain information about availability of beds from OSCs, Swadhar Grehs, Ujjwala Homes and shelter homes, etc, within one month�and share the application with all concerned.

Keeping the guidelines open-ended, Jishnu Barua, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, Social Welfare Department, in a forwarding note has written that the district authorities can initiate further innovative steps beyond the SOP to meet their local requirements.

Among other steps, the SOP states that Home and Political departments will arrange for sharing of details of all Special Juvenile Police Units and Child Welfare Police Officers with 181 WHL. The woman requiring shelter must be screened for COVID-19 using the services of 104 or any health institution of the Health and Family Welfare department.

The responsibility of connecting with 104 or any health institution shall lie with the helpline.

The SOP includes a detailed mechanism to address such issues at the departmental level to avoid any dead-end in the procedure.

The 181-WHL has also been asked to establish communication with the Women Cell in the State CID office on a fortnightly basis and share all information about cases of crime against women with the CID. The OSCs, on the other hand, have been asked to provide information regarding the availability of beds in their centres on a daily basis to the helpline and district social welfare officer via email at 3 pm every day, including holidays.

The managements of Swadhar Grehs, Ujjwala Homes and shelter homes have also been asked to make similar status report regarding the availability of beds.

Provisions have been made to ensure safety of children of the women facing violence under the provision of the JJ Act.

�Noticing a sharp rise in the crime against women, specially domestic violence cases, we have approached the Additional CS Jishnu Barua demanding an SOP. It�s heartening that the government has adopted some of our recommendations in the guidelines,� stated Anurita Pathak Hazarika of NEN.

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