SHILLONG, Aug 10: National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar said the One Stop Centre at Ganesh Das Hospital will be able to serve women in distress more effectively once it is shifted to a permanent location.
During her recent visit, Rahatkar expressed satisfaction with the centre’s functioning, noting that many registered cases have been addressed efficiently. However, she acknowledged that operating from a temporary building poses certain limitations.
“It will function optimally once the new facility, which is still under construction, is completed,” said Rahatkar, who was accompanied by NCW member Delina Khongdup. She added that the permanent premises would greatly enhance the support provided to women in need.
Between August 2011 and July 2025, the centre recorded 3,149 cases related to crimes and domestic violence against women. These included 1,263 cases of domestic violence, 1,062 cases of child sexual abuse, 52 cases of workplace sexual harassment, 152 cases of rape, and 620 other incidents.
Ganesh Das Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. W. Sutnga said the centre offers comprehensive services, including medical care, counselling, emotional support, legal assistance, temporary shelter, and medical reporting for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. A clinical psychologist has also been appointed to counsel victims.
Rahatkar also visited the hospital’s OPD and maternity ward, interacting with patients to assess whether they were benefiting from government schemes. She commended the hospital’s cleanliness and facilities, praising the management for maintaining high standards.
Khongdup highlighted that Meghalaya’s One Stop Centre has developed brochures to assist women in distress — an initiative she described as unique and unprecedented elsewhere. She added that the NCW would present Meghalaya as an example of how government hospitals can maintain cleanliness, suggesting that other states could replicate such practices to improve public healthcare.
