The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has rolled out a dedicated ‘One Stop Crisis Centre’ in Mumbai to help women and children dealing with sexual harassment and violence. The aim is simple, to offer immediate and long-term support to survivors, all under one roof.
This initiative has been set up in partnership with the Savitribai Phule Women’s Resource Centre. The idea is to make help accessible, coordinated and sensitive, especially in cases involving sexual abuse.
The new centre isn’t just a building with a name, it’s meant to be a functional support system. It will offer counselling, legal aid, and medical help to survivors. There’s also a new Cyber Wellness Centre that has been launched under the ‘Responsible Netism’ movement, which focuses on online safety, especially for women and children facing digital threats or abuse.
The official launch took place at the Savitribai Phule Women’s Resource Centre in Parel. Actor Sonali Kulkarni joined the event and honoured individuals who’ve actively worked to combat sexual harassment. She also took a clear stand, saying it’s time everyone speaks out against abuse, especially in workplaces. “It’s not just our responsibility, it’s our duty,” she said.
Chanda Jadhav, who serves as Deputy Commissioner (Special) and heads the BMC’s Women’s Resource Committee, gave more insight into the work planned ahead. According to her, the Cyber Wellness Centre will reach out to schools, underprivileged communities and BMC staff to build awareness about online safety. Free legal and counselling support will be provided in cybercrime cases.
What’s also important to note is that the BMC has been at the forefront of this issue for years. As far back as 1997, it began forming internal committees to deal with sexual harassment in its departments. Today, there are 92 such committees conducting regular training and awareness programmes.
The BMC also holds the distinction of being the first civic body in the country to formally implement the Vishakha Guidelines issued by the Supreme Court to prevent workplace harassment. In 2003, it followed that up with a dedicated policy for ensuring a safe, harassment-free work environment.
This new ‘One Stop Crisis Centre’ is a step forward in that ongoing mission, to make Mumbai a safer space, especially for those who’ve often been left unheard.
