The Sakhi One Stop Centers (Sakhī One Stop Center), located in every district of Uttar Pradesh, provide free support to women who have experienced violence, including police services, medical aid, legal consultation, psychological counseling, and shelter provision.
A woman facing violence is often forced to travel independently between police stations, hospitals, lawyers, and temporary residences. The Sakhi One Stop Centers were created to eliminate this problem by providing access to all necessary resources in one place.
The OSC scheme was introduced on April 1, 2015, and is now part of the 'Sambal' sub-program under the 'Mission Shakti' central level mission. These centers assist women affected by violence in both private and government institutions.
According to the central government's response in Parliament on December 16, 2022, there are 75 such centers functioning in Uttar Pradesh, corresponding to one center in each district.
The centers provide both initial and ongoing psychological support. They also offer temporary accommodation for up to five days and arrange transfer to another location for a longer period if necessary.
An affected woman can directly contact her district's OSC or call the women's helpline 181, which will connect her to the nearest center. In Uttar Pradesh, women can also contact the Women Power Line 1090 or the emergency number 112. Additionally, a list of centers can be found on the Mission Shakti OSC Locator portal, where one can select the state and district.
According to the response to the Lok Sabha inquiry in March 2021, approximately 1.46 lakh cases were registered at the centers in Uttar Pradesh. Since this figure reflects data as of that date, the current number likely exceeds this figure.
The importance of these centers lies in the fact that for a woman in a crisis situation, the biggest obstacle is often the question of where to turn first; having a familiar location in every district simplifies taking the first step.