NIRBHAYA FUND

Feb. 11, 2019

A recent Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has observed that the Nirbhaya Fund is being utilized for other purposes such as construction of buildings which defeats the very purpose of the project — that of safety for women.

About: 

  • Objective: For implementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security for women in the country. 

  • Established in: 2013. 

  • Established by: Union Finance Ministry. 

  • Type: It is a non-lapsable corpus fund. 

Schemes of Ministry of Women and Child Development under Nirbhaya Fund: 

  • One Stop Centre Scheme (Sakhi Centres): 
    • It is being implemented across the country since 1st April 2015. 

    • It aims at establishing Centres to facilitate women affected by violence. It provides First aid, Medical aid, Police assistance, Legal aid and counselling support. 



  • Women Helpline (181): 
    • The Department of Telecommunication has allocated the number 181 to all States/UTs for Women Helpline. 

    • This helpline number will link the One Stop Centres being established by the Ministry of Women & Child Development. 



  • Mahila Police Volunteers (MPVs): 
    • These will act as a link between police and community and help women in distress. 

    • Haryana launched the scheme in 2016, thereby becoming the first state to launch it. 



Schemes of other Ministries/Departments under Nirbhaya Fund: 

  • Central Victim Compensation Scheme (CVCF): 
    • It has been created with a corpus of Rs.200 crores under section 357A CrPC. 

    • It will support States/UTs in providing fund towards compensation to the victim or her dependents who have suffered loss or injury as a result of the crimes (including survivors of rape and acid attack). 

    • Ministry in charge: Home affairs. 



  • Emergency Response Support System (ERSS): 
    • ERSS envisages an integrated computer aided emergency response platform to respond to distress calls and ensure speedy assistance to the distressed persons. 

    • It aims to integrate all emergency numbers to 112 with state of art technology. 

    • Ministry in charge: Home affairs. 



  • Integrated Emergency Response Management System: 
    • The project aims to provide round the clock security to women passengers in all Railway Stations by strengthening of Security Control Rooms of Railways with Security Helpline, Medical Facilities, RPF and police, installation of CCTV cameras, etc. 

    • Ministry in charge: Railways. 



Source : The Hindu