COIMBATORE: Four months after it started functioning, the one stop centre (OSC) to assist women in distress has received 73 calls. More than 90% of the calls were from the rural parts of the district.

“Even though the new helpline181was launched in December, OSC was functioning in the district from October. We have received about 52 cases through the new helpline,” said an official in charge of the centre, which also had a landline number. “Instead of reaching out to multiple sources for assistance, they can reach out to the centre where police assistance, legal assistance, medical assistance and counselling is provided, apart from providing them shelter for five days.”

Most of the women seek assistance to get job opportunities, the official told TOI. “Instead of saving themselves from physical violence they undergo, most of the women want to become financially independent to take care of their family. That is what seems to be important to them.”

“But, one problem that we face is that women are not willing to come forward to register complaint or receive counselling. There were several instances where women called the centre multiple times but not visit it even a single time to undergo counselling. They just seek temporary relief by sharing their grief,” the official said.

Meanwhile, to create awareness, a team has been conducting awareness campaigns in schools and colleges with the help of folk artists. “We still do not get support from colleges to conduct awareness campaigns. College managements considers them as a waste of time,” the official said.

Women hesitate to come forward not only because of lack of awareness but also because of lack of trust in the system, especially the police department, said district secretary of the All India Democratic Women Association (AIDWA) A Radhika. “Unless the government takes some serious steps to build trust, nothing could be changed,” she added.

The centre has received only five calls from the city limit till now.

