‘Central governmnet not listening to anyone’: Rahul Gandhi flags functional problems of OSCs for women | India News
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday flagged issues related to the Centre’s One Stop Center (OSC) meant to support women victims of violence and claimed that the “Modi government is not listening to anyone”.Gandhi emphasized that security is not merely a plan; It is a fundamental responsibility of the government.“Women are knocking on doors for help, yet the government has closed those doors. I asked in Parliament: When a woman flees violence and reaches the One Stop Center (OSC) – why does she not get help? Why does she find the door closed? Why is there a lack of staff? Why are complaints from across the country not being heard?” Gandhi said in a post on his WhatsApp channel.“What was the government’s response? That everything is ‘satisfactory’. If everything is really ‘satisfactory’, why are there so many reports of problems with OSC?” He saidIf safety is a priority, why is aid still failing to reach three out of five women, Gandhi asked.“And why out of every Rs 100 allocated to the Ministry of Women and Child Development, 60 paise is being spent on OSC?” Former Congress chief Dr.“Security is not a mere scheme; it is a fundamental responsibility of the government. Dismissing everything as ‘satisfactory’ does not ensure security; it only proves that the Modi government is listening to no one,” Gandhi said.In his question in the Lok Sabha on March 27, Gandhi asked the details, if any, of the numerous OSCs remaining locked, non-functional/mandatory to function round the clock; and the number of women who have sought help and shelter from OSC and the number of cases of crimes against women in the last five years, state-wise and year-wise.He also asked about the number of OSCs launched state-wise and year-wise and new OSCs in the last five years; and details of funds released/utilized for OSC during the said period, state-wise and year-wise indicating reasons for under-utilisation.He also wanted to know details of sanctioned versus filled positions in OSC, including administrators, case workers, counsellors, medical officers and police, state-wise; and whether the Ministry has examined the allegations of maladministration/violation of administrative guidelines, if so, the action taken thereon with details thereof.In a written reply to questions, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur said that OSC is a component of the Sambal vertical under the umbrella mission Shakti and it provides integrated and immediate support and assistance under one roof to women affected by violence and distressed women in both private and public spaces. “It provides poor women with services like medical aid, legal aid and counselling, temporary shelter, police assistance and psycho-social counselling. Since inception, i.e. from 1st April, 2015 to 31st December, 2025, more than 13.37 lakh women have been assisted in the country,” he said and also shared state and UT-wise details of OSC.The Minister said that the overall implementation of the OSC scheme involved the state government and the UT administration.“Two third-party evaluations of the Ministry’s schemes including its components related to the Mission Shakti Umbrella Scheme and One Stop Center (OSC) have been conducted by NITI Aayog in 2020 and again in 2025. The studies have found the relevance, effectiveness and sustainability of the scheme,” said Thaffector.
