Toronto Consulate Establishes 24×7 Women’s Help Center

India-West News Desk

TORONTO- The Consulate General of India in Toronto has established a dedicated One Stop Center for Women to support Indian women in distress, including those facing domestic violence, abuse, family conflict, abandonment, exploitation, and legal difficulties. The centre will operate from the Indian mission in Toronto.

In a statement, the Consulate said the facility will provide coordinated and beneficiary-centered assistance by linking affected women to timely and appropriate support services. This will include immediate counselling, access to psycho-social support, and coordination of legal assistance and advice, while also helping women connect with relevant community and social service resources in Canada. The Consulate emphasized that all interventions by the centre will be carried out in accordance with local Canadian laws.

The One Stop Center will be run by a woman centre administrator and will offer safe, dignified and comprehensive assistance to women in need on a means-tested basis. Support will be provided through the prompt handling of distress calls via a 24×7 helpline and will include counselling and emotional support through empaneled non-governmental organizations. Any financial assistance extended will be subject to means testing in line with Government of India rules, the statement added.

The announcement comes days after a 30-year-old Indian-origin woman, Himanshi Khurana, was found murdered in Toronto. Canadian police have issued a nationwide arrest warrant for 32-year-old Abdul Ghafoori, a Toronto resident known to the victim, in connection with the killing, according to local media reports citing law enforcement officials.