Govt set to roll out 25 more One Stop Centres in April

Lucknow: In a major step towards strengthening women's safety and empowerment in Uttar Pradesh, the govt led by Yogi Adityanath is set to launch 25 new One Stop Centres in April, taking the total number of operational centres to 121, including two new centres each in Lucknow, Jaunpur, Sonbhadra and Gautam Budh Nagar.Through these One Stop Centres, women affected by violence will receive short-stay facilities, medical assistance, counselling services, legal aid, along with police support at a single location. Keeping in mind the state's large population, this model has emerged as an effective mechanism to provide immediate assistance to women in distress, ensuring quick relief and support in their pursuit of justice. In addition to the four districts receiving two centres each, new centres will also be established in districts such as Ayodhya, Mirzapur, Maharajganj, Meerut, Prayagraj, Agra, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Unnao, Jalaun, Bahraich, Firozabad, Lakhimpur Kheri, Chandauli and Hardoi, with one centre each. Additionally, every One Stop Center will be equipped with a dedicated vehicle to ensure an immediate response in emergency situations. This initiative is being seen as a decisive step towards strengthening women's safety. Since the inception of the scheme, a total of 2.39 lakh cases have been assisted through One Stop Centres, highlighting their effectiveness and importance. The expansion from 96 to 121 centres will play a crucial role in creating a safer and more supportive environment for women across the state.