One Stop Centres in AP — also called Sakhi centres — are the first place a woman in distress should go. Under Mission Shakti, the Government of India’s umbrella for women’s safety and empowerment, a One Stop Centre gives a woman in one place the help she needs most: police assistance, legal aid, medical care, counselling and a safe place to stay. One call to the Women Helpline 181 connects her to it. This guide explains what One Stop Centres in AP do, who they are for, how to reach one, and what happens when you walk in.

One Stop Centres in AP: What They Are

One Stop Centres in AP are district-level centres where a woman facing violence or distress can get every kind of help in one place, instead of running from office to office. A woman who has been beaten, harassed, threatened, or thrown out of her home often does not know where to start — the centre starts with her. One Stop Centres in AP bring together the police, the doctor, the lawyer and the counsellor under one roof, so that she only has to tell her story once.

The centres are called Sakhi — meaning a friend — because that is what they are meant to be: a friend in a crisis. They work under Mission Shakti, the Government of India’s umbrella for women’s safety and empowerment. Our guide to Mission Shakti in Andhra Pradesh explains the full system — the centres, the 181 helpline and the hostels — and this guide goes into the centres in detail.

Who the Centres Are For

One Stop Centres in AP are for any woman in distress — a woman facing domestic violence, sexual harassment, stalking, dowry harassment, or any form of abuse, and a woman who has been abandoned, trafficked or thrown out of her home. There is no fee, and no woman is turned away for not having documents or money.

A woman can go herself, or a family member, a friend, a neighbour or an ASHA worker can take her. A child who has been abused can also be brought to the centre. The centre does not ask for proof before it helps — it helps first, and the paperwork follows. If you are in immediate danger, call 108 or the police first, and go to the centre after you are safe.

What Help a One Stop Centre Gives

One Stop Centres in AP give five kinds of help in one place. First, police assistance — the centre helps file a complaint and connects the woman to the police. Second, legal aid — a lawyer explains her rights and helps with the case. Third, medical care — a doctor examines and treats her, and the medical report is kept for the case. Fourth, counselling — a trained counsellor listens and helps her decide what to do next. Fifth, temporary shelter — if she cannot go home safely, the centre arranges a safe place to stay.

That shelter can be the first step to a longer stay. Women who need a safe place to live while they work can move on to the Working Women Hostels in AP, and women who need income support can join a self-help group — see our guide to Stree Shakti Women SHGs in AP. The centre can also link a woman to the widow pension — our guide to the AP Widow Pension 2026 explains it.

How to Reach a One Stop Centre

To reach a One Stop Centre in AP, call the Women Helpline 181 — it is the single number to remember. The helpline can tell you where the nearest centre is, what to bring, and can connect you to the centre directly. You can also go to the centre in your district — ask at the Women Development and Child Welfare Department in your district for the address.

Keep your Aadhaar card and any documents you have ready, but do not wait for documents if you are in danger — go first. Bring a phone with charge if you can, and tell a trusted person where you are going. The centre keeps what you tell it confidential, and it does not act against your wishes.

What Happens When You Walk In

When a woman walks into a One Stop Centre in AP, a counsellor listens to her first — what happened, what she needs, and what she wants to do. Then the centre arranges the help she needs: a medical check if she is hurt, a police complaint if she wants one, legal advice, and a safe place to stay if she cannot go home. The centre follows up afterwards — it does not close the case on the first day.

One honest note: the exact address, opening hours and staffing of a centre can change, so this guide does not list them — call 181 or ask at the Women Development and Child Welfare Department in your district for the current details. What does not change is the promise: one centre, one call, every kind of help.

After the First Visit: Follow-Up and Longer-Term Support

One Stop Centres in AP do not stop helping after the first visit. The centre follows up with the woman — checking whether she is safe, whether the police complaint is moving, whether the medical treatment is complete, and whether she needs further help. That follow-up matters, because the days after a crisis are often when a woman needs the most support — and when she is most likely to be pressured to drop the complaint or go back to the situation she left.

The centre can also link a woman to longer-term support. That can mean a safe place to stay through the working women hostels, income support through a self-help group, or help with a pension or a ration card through the Grama or Ward Sachivalayam. One Stop Centres in AP are the door into the whole support system — the woman does not need to know which scheme to ask for; the centre finds the right one for her.

For the family of a woman in distress, the centre is also a guide. A parent, a sibling or a friend who brings a woman to the centre can ask the counsellor what to do next, how to keep her safe, and what not to do — such as pressuring her to compromise. The centre’s advice is free, and it is confidential.

Frequently Asked Questions About One Stop Centres in AP

What is a One Stop Centre (Sakhi)?

A district-level centre under Mission Shakti where a woman in distress gets police help, legal aid, medical care, counselling and temporary shelter in one place. It is also called a Sakhi centre.

How do I contact one?

Call the Women Helpline 181 — it connects you to the nearest centre. You can also ask at the Women Development and Child Welfare Department in your district.

Is there a fee?

No. The services of One Stop Centres in AP are free, and no woman is turned away for not having documents or money.

Will my information stay private?

Yes. The centre keeps what you tell it confidential, and it does not act against your wishes.

Where can I get more information?

On the Ministry of Women and Child Development site at wcd.nic.in and the Andhra Pradesh government portal at ap.gov.in. For grievances, use gsws-nbm.ap.gov.in or call 1902. For a medical emergency, call 108.

One Stop Centres in AP exist so that no woman in distress has to face the system alone. Remember the number — 181 — and remember the name — Sakhi. One call, one centre, and every kind of help: police, lawyer, doctor, counsellor and a safe place to stay. If you or a woman you know is in distress, call 181 now.

Last updated: November 2026