Shakti Sadan for women in distress becomes operational in Daltonganj
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Daltonganj, November 15: A 50-bed Shakti Sadan for women in difficult circumstances, survivors of domestic violence and rescued…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, November 15: A 50-bed Shakti Sadan for women in difficult circumstances, survivors of domestic violence and rescued victims of human trafficking has become operational in Daltonganj. The facility, located in Ward No. 19 of Ambedkar Nagar, was inaugurated by Palamu Deputy Commissioner Dilip Pratap Singh Shekhawat on Saturday.
The centre aims to provide women in distress with shelter, food, healthcare, access to skill training, psychosocial counselling and legal assistance, all free of cost.
India has around 400 Shakti Sadan facilities across various states and Union Territories. Jharkhand currently has seven functional centres, while 12 more sanctioned facilities are expected to become operational soon, according to the information shared in the report.
NGO to manage the 50-bed facility
The Shakti Sadan in Daltonganj is being run by Gramin Samaj Kalyan Vikas Manch (GSKVM), a reputed NGO that has previously managed Swadhar Greh and Ujjawala Greh facilities.
According to sources, the Deputy Commissioner had granted permission to start the centre in September. However, the search for a suitable government building proved unsuccessful, following which a rented house in Ambedkar Nagar was arranged at a monthly rent of Rs 25,000.
Explaining the services available at the centre, GSKVM secretary Md Hashmat Rabbani said, “Shelter, food, health care, access to skill training, psycho social counselling, legal aid, etc. are free with the sole aim of making these women self-confident, self-reliant and empowered enough to take on the challenges of life”.
Central government scheme for women in distress
Shakti Sadan is a Central government initiative under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The scheme was created in 2022 by merging the two earlier facilities, Swadhar Greh and Ujjawala Greh.
Funding for Shakti Sadan is provided by the Union government and the respective state government. The centre is expected to submit demand-based budget requirements for its functioning.
The facility is intended to support women facing difficult circumstances, including domestic violence, abandonment, social ostracisation, displacement and human trafficking.
Public awareness remains a major challenge
Despite the centre becoming operational, awareness about the facility appears limited among local women.
A survey conducted by this correspondent found that seven out of every 10 women approached said they needed more information about the services available at Shakti Sadan.
The findings underline the need for an extensive awareness campaign by the District Social Welfare Department so that women in distress, particularly those in rural areas, know where to seek help.
District Social Welfare Officer Neeta Chouhan and her team are expected to undertake a coordinated outreach campaign to publicise the facility, sources said.
Coordination with RPF could help rescued women
The report also highlights the potential for coordination between Shakti Sadan and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at the railway station, where girls and women are reportedly rescued regularly.
While minor girls are placed under the care of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), adult women rescued from difficult circumstances can be accommodated at Shakti Sadan, according to sources.
Such coordination could help ensure that adult women rescued from trafficking or other vulnerable situations have access to shelter and support.
A shelter for women facing hardship at home
The need for such a facility is particularly significant in a district where women face multiple forms of domestic and social distress.
Difficult circumstances often begin within the home itself, through domestic violence, abandonment, social ostracisation and displacement. The report also points to incidents in Palamu in which women facing harassment and pressure over the birth of daughters have died by suicide.
Shakti Sadan is expected to offer a safe space and a chance for women to rebuild their lives with dignity and independence. However, its effectiveness will depend not only on the services available but also on whether women in remote and rural areas are aware of the facility and can access it when needed.
