Over 2000 Crores In Nirbhaya Fund – When, Where And How Will This Be Utilized?

A total number of 2,28,650 cases, 2,44,270 cases, and 3,09,546 cases were registered under crimes against women including minor girls during 2011-2013. As per available details a total number of 7,112 cases, 8,541 cases and 12,363 cases were registered under rape of children during 2011, 2012 and 2013. And the data also goes on to show that more than 70% of the victims of sexual harassment know their offenders and they include people from their immediate family to acquaintances to neigbhors.

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While the government has and is constantly talking about various initiatives as part of the Nirbhaya Fund, as indicated below, the question still remains – Are these initiatives capable of dealing with this menace at a more fundamental level? The reason I ask this question is most of these initiatives focus on law and order, protecting and rehabiliating victims of sexual assualt, protecting minors – it rarely talks about education, awareness, sensitising the society as a whole.

Just as an example, consider this – It was in the mid-1980s that WHO declared Polio as an endemic that needs to be fought tooth and nail and within the next 30 years or so, Polio was eradicated completely, including in India. They were successful in their endeavours due to their commitment and also largely due to their grassroot level interventions. Sexual violence also needs to be fought with the same commitment, because if as a society we cannot provide a safe environment for our children there is no hope we can provide for our future.

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Ministry of Home Affairs has taken a series of measures to strengthen the legislation and implementing agencies to contain incidents of crimes against women and children

• The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, have come to force since 3 February 2013 on crimes against women.
• The Government has amended various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act.
• It has enhanced punishment for crimes like rape, sexual harassment, stalking, voyeurism, acid attacks, indecent gestures like words and inappropriate touch etc.
• The new laws have provisions for increased sentence for rape convicts, including life-term and death sentence, besides providing for stringent punishment for offences such as acid attacks, stalking and voyeurism
• Nirbhaya Fund was created in 2013 which has thus far accumulated 3000 crores of money

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The Nirbhaya fund which was created way back in 2013 is now worth more than 2000 crores

As answered on Dec 2015 (http://164.100.47.190/loksabhaquestions).

Below are the details of proposals appraised and recommended under Nirbhaya Funds.

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Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) :

• One Stop Centre with total project cost of Rs. 18.58 crore.
• Universalisation of Women Helpline with Rs. 69.49 crore.

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Ministry of Home Affairs:

• Creation of Central Victim Compensation Fund (CVCF) for supporting the States/UT Administrations for implementation of Victim Compensation Scheme of Rs. 200.00 Crore.
• Creation of Investigative Units for Crime against Women (IUCAW) in all police districts of the country of Rs. 324.00 Crore Funds amounting to Rs. 10.71 crore have been released in respect of One Stop Centre
• An amount of Rs. 13.92 crore has been sanctioned for Women Helpline to the States/UTs.

As answered on March 2017 (http://164.100.47.190/loksabhaquestions/annex/11/AU1836.pdf)

Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing three schemes under Nirbhaya Fund namely:

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One Stop Centre (OSC)

• One Stop Centres have been set up to facilitate access to an integrated range of services including medical, legal, and psychological support to women affected by violence to be funded through Nirbhaya Fund.
• The One Stop Centres will be integrated with 181 and other existing helplines. So far, 84 One Stop Centres have become operational.
• The number of women assisted as informed by the States is 1143.

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Women Helpline (WHL)

The Scheme of Universalisation of Women Helpline is intended to provide 24 hours immediate and emergency response to women affected by violence through referral and information about women related government schemes programs across the country through a single uniform number.

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Mahila Police Volunteer

• The MWCD in collaboration with MHA has envisaged engagement of Mahila Police Volunteer in State/UTs who will act as a link between Police and Community and facilitate women in distress.
• The proposals of different Ministries, appraised and recommended so far by the Empowered Committee are at different stages of implementation.

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We Cried For Nirbhaya, But The Fund Named After Her Is Under-Utilised While Rape Victims Continue To Suffer

In May 2016, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the centre and all the state governments, questioning why the Nirbhaya Fund has been left largely unused. On 27 January 2017, the Ministry of Women and Child Development clarified its position and expenditures.

The funds, though availed in various non-implemented schemes, remain unutilised. Which is disappointing since they now amount to over Rs 3000 crore and can really make an impact in the fight to make India safe for women.

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The funds have high potential – but this potential remains untapped

For the first two years, despite several suggestions and proposals, the Fund remained largely unused. In 2015, it was decided that the Women and Child Development Ministry would be the nodal authority, and the Department of Economic Affairs under the Finance Ministry would scrutinise the financial appraisals of the funds.

The same year, Indian Railways took the initiative of installing CCTV cameras to assure the security of passengers. It was to be done in 20000 coaches at a cost of Rs 700 crore from the Nirbhaya Fund.

However, in 2016, a parliamentary standing committee report highlighted the under-utilisation of the funds. The report said, “It has been brought to the notice of the Committee that for the past 3 to 4 years, almost all the funds are lying idle. It is a complete irony that on one hand, crimes, against women are on the rise and on the other, funds allotted to tackle this issue has remained unutilised.”

This is not to say that the government has not introduced schemes to ensure women’s safety. Schemes have been introduced, but these schemes have not been implemented.

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The Logical Indian take

There needs to be no clarification on the point that we need to invest in ways to curb sexual violence and make women and sexual minorities feel safer in India – especially in our public spaces. The Nirbhaya Fund was introduced keeping this in mind. Seeing the high worth and potential of the scheme, the government must appreciate this and utilise the fund for the betterment of the society.

Many ministries have pitched proposals, and the Ministry of Women and Child Development has begun work on many schemes as well. The pace of this has to be enhanced and it must be ensured that every rupee of the Fund is spent judiciously and effectively.

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Read more at:

1. sureshe.wordpress
2. We Cried For Nirbhaya, But The Fund Named After Her Is Under-Utilised While Rape Victims Continue To Suffer