A defining feature of the Special Cells is their strategic placement within police stations, bridging the gap between survivors and the criminal justice system. Trained social workers have facilitated smoother navigation of legal procedures.

The impending closure of Jammu and Kashmir’s Special Cells for Women, slated for March 31, 2025, has sparked widespread outcry as an online petition, addressed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is rapidly gaining traction, urging immediate action to prevent the shutdown of these vital support centres.

Established in 2021 by the National Commission for Women (NCW) in collaboration with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and the J&K Home and Social Welfare Departments, these Special Cells were created to address the void left by the dissolution of the State Women’s Commission following the abrogation of Article 370.

The petition highlights the critical role these cells have played in providing psycho-social-legal support to women facing violence across all 20 districts of J&K. Funded by the NCW under the “Violence-Free Home – A Woman’s Right Initiative,” the cells have become a lifeline for nearly 10,000 survivors of violence, offering counselling, legal assistance, and crisis intervention.

Since its inception, the Special Cells have reached out to 9,791 survivors of violence, providing them with counselling, legal assistance, and crisis intervention. Additionally, social workers from the Special Cells have conducted or participated in 1,581 awareness and training programs, sensitising communities about legal rights and protective laws for women and children. 

The Special Cells for Women in Jammu and Kashmir are being run by a team of 40 social workers (two per each district) and two regional coordinators (one for Jammu Division and one for Kashmir Division). Each staff member has been trained intensively and is having years of experience in working with women in distress.

“The news of the impending closure is a devastating blow to gender and women activists,” the petition states, emphasizing the transformative impact of these cells in ensuring access to justice and protection for vulnerable women.

Gender-based Violence

A defining feature of the Special Cells is their strategic placement within police stations, bridging the gap between survivors and the criminal justice system. Trained social workers have facilitated smoother navigation of legal procedures, fostering a more sensitive and supportive environment within law enforcement. The trained social workers engaged by the special cells ensure that women can navigate legal procedures with dignity and support.

“It has made police stations accessible and the police personnel more sensitive to gender based violence,” the petition says. “However, with NCW’s decision to withdraw funding, thousands of women currently receiving support will be left vulnerable and without recourse. Many will find their cases abandoned mid-process, facing immense hardship in their fight for justice.”

The petition further says that “The abrupt closure of these services would be a severe setback in the fight against gender-based violence, leaving countless women without structured protection.”

“While institutionalizing the Special Cells under the state government is the ideal long-term solution, an immediate interim measure is crucial to ensure that services remain uninterrupted”

The petition underscores the significant contributions of the 40 social workers and two regional coordinators, all highly qualified and experienced, who staff these cells. Their efforts have not only provided direct support to survivors but also included conducting over 1,500 awareness and training programs, educating communities about women and children’s legal rights.

Two crores per year

The petitioners express deep concern over the NCW’s decision to withdraw funding, which threatens to leave thousands of women without essential support and potentially abandon ongoing cases. They argue that the closure would represent a severe setback in the fight against gender-based violence, undoing years of progress.

“The abrupt closure of these services would be a severe setback in the fight against gender-based violence, leaving countless women without structured protection,” the petition warns.

To avert this crisis, the petitioners are urging CM Abdullah to intervene and implement immediate measures. Their demands include:

• Directing the Social Welfare and Home Departments to explore interim funding solutions to ensure the continued operation of the Special Cells.
• Requesting the NCW to extend financial support until the state government can finalize the institutionalization of these cells.
• Expediting the institutionalization process, which is already under consideration by the Ministry of Social Welfare.
• Convening an urgent meeting with key stakeholders, including the NCW, TISS, and the state government, to devise a sustainable transition plan.

“Even if it means allowing some CSR funding to TISS which can continue with the cells, if money/funding is the real issue but it is hard to believe that 2crores/year is a big deal for any government to spend on such a critical service,” the petition says.

The petition stresses the urgency of the situation, emphasizing that the Special Cells have become a beacon of hope for women in distress. They argue that allowing these cells to close would signal a disregard for the safety and well-being of women in Jammu and Kashmir.

Activists and concerned citizens are calling on the CM to recognize the critical importance of these services and take immediate action to ensure their continuity. They believe that the preservation of these Special Cells is not just a matter of funding but a fundamental commitment to the protection and empowerment of women in the region.

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