The mission said it has also launched a 24×7 helpline to ensure immediate support.
Indian Mission Launches One-Stop Help Centre for Distressed Women in Canada
The Indian mission said in a statement that the Consulate General of India in Toronto has established a “One Stop Centre for Women” (OSCW) to support Indian national women in distress residing in Canada. The OSCW has been set up to provide timely and critical assistance to Indian passport-holder women facing issues such as domestic violence, abuse, family conflict, abandonment, exploitation, legal challenges, and other similar hardships.
The mission said it has also launched a 24×7 helpline to ensure immediate support.
The Indian consulate said in a post on X that the centre will deliver coordinated, beneficiary-centred assistance by linking distressed women with appropriate avenues of support, including immediate counselling, facilitation of psycho-social support, and coordination of legal assistance and advice.
The mission clarified that all services and interventions by the OSCW will be provided within the purview of Canadian local laws. The centre will be managed by a woman Centre Administrator, tasked with ensuring safe, dignified and comprehensive assistance on a means-tested basis through the helpline. This includes counselling and emotional support through empanelled NGOs, while any financial aid will follow Government of India rules.
Operating from the Consulate General of India in Toronto, the centre can be reached at +1 (437) 552-3309 and [osc.toronto@mea.gov.in](mailto:osc.toronto@mea.gov.in).
The mission’s FAQ on its website also outlines how officials can or cannot assist Indian women affected by abandonment or abuse by overseas Indian spouses.
Source: The Tribune
