One Stop Centres (OSCs) coordinate closely with local police and hospitals through pre‑defined linkages, shared protocols, and 24×7 emergency referral systems so that a woman can be rescued, treated, and legally protected without delay. This coordination is anchored in official OSC guidelines, which designate specific roles for the Centre Administrator, police, health services and legal authorities at district level.
Emergency rescue and first response
OSCs are linked to emergency services like 108 ambulances, National Health Mission (NHM) networks, and Police Control Room (PCR) vans so that calls from women in distress can trigger immediate rescue and transport to safety. When a complaint comes via helpline or local contacts, the OSC alerts police and ambulance services simultaneously, ensuring the woman is taken either straight to a hospital (if injured) or to the OSC for safe shelter and further support.
Text or online alerts are often auto‑sent to key district officials such as the Superintendent of Police (SP), Station House Officer (SHO), District Magistrate (DM), Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and others when a serious case is registered, so multiple authorities are aware and can act quickly. This integrated alert system helps minimise delays that survivors would otherwise face in approaching different offices one by one.
Coordination with local police
Guidelines make the Centre Administrator the main nodal person to work with local police stations, Women Help Desks, and Anti‑Human Trafficking Units. The Administrator or OSC staff assist survivors in lodging FIRs, giving statements, and understanding legal options, often coordinating with the police to arrange statement recording at the OSC or hospital to reduce trauma.
Police help with:
- Escorting OSC staff for rescue operations when there is an immediate threat.
- Providing protection orders and security if the woman fears retaliation.
- Registering and investigating cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, or other offences reported through the OSC.
OSCs and police share contact lists, standard operating procedures, and regular review meetings at district level so they can track cases, resolve bottlenecks, and ensure timely follow‑up on investigations and court processes.
Coordination with hospitals and health services
OSCs maintain formal linkages with designated hospitals under NHM so that women can receive prompt medical treatment and medico‑legal examination. Many centres are located inside or next to government hospitals, which makes it easier to move survivors between emergency rooms, gynaecology wards, and counselling rooms while keeping them in a protected environment.
When a woman arrives or is rescued, OSC staff coordinate with hospital doctors to:
- Arrange immediate treatment and stabilisation in emergencies.
- Ensure medico‑legal cases (MLCs) are registered where required for evidence.
- Facilitate collection of forensic evidence in sexual‑assault cases as per law.
Hospitals and OSCs share referral protocols and lists of nodal doctors so staff know exactly whom to call at any hour, and OSC counsellors often accompany survivors through examinations to provide emotional support and help them understand procedures and reports.
Information flow and case management
OSCs keep registers and digital records of each case, including referrals to and from police and hospitals, and regularly update these stakeholders on progress such as FIR status, medical reports, and court dates. Standardised formats and flow‑charts in the scheme guidelines outline how a case should move from emergency rescue to medical care, legal action, counselling, and, where needed, long‑term shelter or rehabilitation.
By institutionalising these coordination mechanisms, OSCs turn what used to be a fragmented, survivor‑driven process into a structured, system‑driven response where police, hospitals and the OSC act in concert rather than in isolation.
