Mid-day special: Abuse survivor denied emergency shelter as Mumbai KEM One Stop Centre faces staff crunch

A 19yearold survivor of child sexual abuse who fled an alleged fresh assault by her mother and accused stepfather was unable to find immediate refuge at Mumbais One Stop Centre OSC at KEM Hospital after its emergency shelter had allegedly remained nonoperational for a few days because of staff shortagesThe incident highlighted by womens rights organisation Majlis has raised serious questions over the functioning of one of Mumbais key emergency support services for women escaping violenceThe case has also prompted Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora to write to the BMC seeking immediate restoration of shelter servicesThe ordeal2024According to Majlis a legal centre for women and children facing sexual and domestic violence the survivor reported repeated sexual abuse by her stepfather from the age of 15A POCSO case was registered after she approached Childline She later stayed in a shelter home before being returned to her mother in June 2026July 31She returned from Uttar Pradesh to Mumbai for college admissions and examinationsMajlis alleged her mother took her back to the house where the accused stepfather livedAugust 1According to Majlisgtgt She was allegedly abused through the nightgtgt She was allegedly assaulted outside her college after insisting on attending classesgtgt She escaped and called the Majlis helpline during a panic attackMajlis counsellors persuaded college authorities not to hand her back to her family She was taken to the One Stop Centre at KEM HospitalMajlis says it was informed around 6 pm that the shelter had stopped admissions because of staff shortagesThe survivor was eventually taken to the Jogeshwari One Stop CentreWhat is a One Stop CentreThe One Stop Centre Sakhi under the Centrersquos Mission Shakti scheme is designed as a singlewindow support system for womenServices includegtgt 24x7 responsegtgt Temporary shelter generally up to five daysgtgt Medical assistancegtgt Police supportgtgt Psychological counsellinggtgt Free legal aidgtgt Linkage with the 181 womenrsquos helplineQuestions raisedgtgt Why was Mumbairsquos busiest One Stop Centre shelter allowed to remain nonoperational for nearly a monthgtgt Why were NGOs and frontline responders not informedgtgt Why was no alternative emergency shelter arrangedgtgt How many survivors may have been turned away during this periodgtgt When will the KEM shelter resume normal operationsOfficial responseAttempts to contact KEM Dean Dr Harish Phatak Officials of the Women and Child Development Department and BMC did not elicit a response till the time of going to presslsquoNo survivor should spend hours searching for safetyrsquoMajlis has allegedgtgt The shelter had remained closed for last few daysgtgt NGOs had not been informedgtgt No alternative arrangements had been madegtgt The survivor was repeatedly asked to leave despite her conditionAdmission at Jogeshwari OSC Majlis said was granted only after it submitted a formal letterldquoNo survivor should have to spend five hours searching for a safe place to sleeprdquo said MajlislsquoAdmissions stoppedrsquoA staff member at KEM Hospital confirmed that admissions at the One Stop Centre had been suspended because of inadequate manpowergtgt Earlier staffing Around 15 personnelgtgt Reduced to Ninegtgt Present strength Threegtgt Staff currently on leave TwoMP seeks urgent interventionRS MP Milind Deora has written to BMC chief seeking immediate restoration of servicesHe urged the civic body togtgt Restore shelter operations immediatelygtgt Ensure roundtheclock staffinggtgt Prevent similar disruptions in futureHe also offered assistance from his office to help restore servicesMajlis demands immediate actionAudrey DrsquoMello director Majlis said ldquoThe One Stop Centre was meant to be the first place a survivor turns to We demand that the KEM OSC shelter be opened immediately Essential public services cannot simply disappear without informing stakeholders or ensuring alternative arrangements Survivors deserve betterrdquoMajlis has demandedgtgt Immediate reopening of KEM sheltergtgt Adequate staffinggtgt Alternative arrangements during disruptionsgtgt Removal of procedural delays in providing emergency protectionMajlis National Helpline 75067 32641Hours Monday to Friday 11 am to 7 pmLegal counselling and support for women and children experiencing sexual or domestic violence