One Stop Centres (OSCs) are state-sponsored institutions to help women in need, especially when they face abuse. In theory, these initiatives create a strong support network. However, CPPR’s study noted that these centres aren’t functioning properly in Kerala, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.

Kerala has a wide range of mechanisms to support women facing violence — from central schemes such as One Stop Centres, Mahila Mandirams, Mitra helplines, and Women Protection Officers under the Domestic Violence Act, to state-funded initiatives like Awasanidhi. Women can also access the Health Department’s Bhumika initiative, Kudumbashree’s Snehitha centres, and the Homoeopathy Department’s Seethalayam programme.

South First has quoted a detailed study by the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) on violence against women and girls (VAWG), highlighting key gaps in the system. These include low awareness of services, limited access, institutional weaknesses such as poor planning and underutilised funds, weak interdepartmental coordination, social pressure to “adjust” within marriages, inconsistent training for frontline workers, and the absence of structured feedback mechanisms.

The CPPR study on VAWG is also cited in discussions on the rising incidence of domestic violence in Kerala, underscoring the need for institutional reforms, addressing gender norms, targeted programmes in schools and colleges, and promoting responsible bystander interventions.

Anu Maria Francis, Senior Research Associate at CPPR, is also quoted in the article, elaborating on the CPPR study on VAWG titled “Strengthening Institutional Mechanisms Combating VAWG” and its major findings across states. The research was conducted in Goa, Kerala, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand.

Read the full article by South First here.

Views expressed by the author are personal and need not reflect or represent the views of the Centre for Public Policy Research.