Smriti Irani Launches Project To Extend Mental Health Training In India

Ahead of International Womens’ day, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Zubin Irani launched the ‘Stree Manoraksha Project’ that aims to extend mental health training to OSC functionaries across India. This project was launched in collaboration with the National institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). Also, as a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,’ the ministry is celebrating International Women’s Day week from 1st to 8th March 2022.

During the launch of the project, the Union Minister Smriti Irani said, “Today, the project which we are discussing with NIMHANS, if we look at it as just a project, we will find ourselves limited to the administrative framework, but this project is intended to give life and dignity to women and break the cycle of violence.” Explaining how violence affects children at home, she also mentioned that the right set of family values and education help women and children to grow. She also went on to say that it takes a lot of guts for a woman to come out and admit she has been victimised when she visits the One Stop Centres (OSC). As a result, all OSC staff, from counsellors to security guards to supervisors, are needed to be educated in assisting distraught women.

Further, she tweeted, “Stree Manoraksha’ Project launched with @mheduNIMHANS is aimed at extending mental health training to 6000 OSC functionaries across India. Training module meticulously carved out by NIMHANS will aid functionaries in helping distressed women & also provide self-care techniques.” The Union Minister also praised the efforts of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and SLSA lawyers across the country who had gone a long way in assisting women victims of OSCs. She stated that the Ministry of Women, Children and Development is planning a pilot on ‘Naari Adalat’ with the help of NALSA so that women victims can receive prompt justice.

Films about the Stree Manoraksha Project and how NALSA supported them were also shown throughout the event to raise awareness. During the event, the women assisted by One Stop Centres also told their stories. Beneficiaries and OSC officials participated in interactive sessions. The program also outlined the collaborative and convergent approaches and activities to be done with various agencies such as BPR&D, NIMHANS, and NALSA. The event concluded with some action points that addressed the system strengthening, capacity training, process improvement, and assisting women in challenging situations