Lok Sabha Question No. 4843 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-31
Subject: Fund for Women Victims of Heinous Crimes
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4843 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.03.2023

## FUND FOR WOMEN VICTIMS OF HEINOUS CRIMES

## 4843.  SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether this Ministry has any scheme or introduced any special fund for women victims of heinous crimes such as rape and survival of acid attack for helping them in treatment as well as boosting them to achieve their goal of life;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and number of beneficiaries thereunder;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the concrete measures being taken by the Government to punish the culprits and provide quick help to victims in view of the rise in such cases in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (d): 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibility to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens including investigation and prosecution in cases of  crimes  against  women  and  children  (including  rape  and  acid  attack  )   rests primarily  with  the  respective  State  Governments.  The  State  Governments  are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws.

Nevertheless,  the  Central  Government  has  taken  various  steps  to  support  and supplement the efforts of the States / UTs in ensuring safety and security of women and girls.

The  Government  of  India is implementing 'One  Stop Centre (OSC)'  and ''Universalisation of Women Helpline (WHL)' components under umbrella scheme 'Mission Shakti'. OSCs aim to facilitate women affected by violence with a range of integrated  services  under  one  roof  such  as  police  facilitation,  medical  aid,  legal counselling, psycho-social counselling, temporary shelter etc. ''Universalisation of Women  Helpline'  scheme  provides  24  hours  emergency  and  non-emergency response to women affected by violence through the short code 181 by linking them with  appropriate  authorities  such  as  Police,  One  Stop  Centre,  Hospital,  Legal Services etc. WHL also supports women in distress with rescue van and counselling services  in  addition  to  providing  information  about  women  welfare  schemes  and programs across the country. Further, the Ministry of  Women  and  Child Development is also administering Swadhar Greh Scheme  for relief and rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances, including victims of rape and acid attack.

Section 357A of Cr. P.C. provides that compensation under Victim Compensation Scheme is to be paid to the victims. Section 357B of Cr.P.C. further provides that compensation payable under section 357A shall be in addition to the payment of fine to victim. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also issued a comprehensive Advisory on 20th April 2015 on taking steps to implement the provisions of Indian Penal Code (IPC),  expediting  action  in  cases  of  acid  attack,  and  to  provide  treatment  and compensation to victims.

Further, pursuant to the Hon'ble Supreme Court's order dated 11.05.2018 in the WP(C)  565/  2012  -  Nipun  Saxena  Vs.  Union  of  India,  National  Legal  Services Authority (NALSA) has formulated the revised scheme enhancing the compensation to  be  given  to  Women  Victims/Survivors  of  Sexual  Assault/  other  crimes.  The scheme  also  covers  the  cases  of  acid  attacks.  The  scheme  was  circulated  by Ministry of Women & Child Development on 18.05.2018 and again by Ministry of Home Affairs on 28.06.2018 to all States/UTs for compliance

Moreover, the National Legal Services Authority has framed NALSA (Legal Services to Victims of Acid Attacks) Scheme, 2016 under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. The main objectives of the Scheme include enabling victims of acid attacks to get access to medical facilities and rehabilitative services, and strengthening legal aid for victims of acid attack

In addition, under the Prime Minister's Relief Fund Rs. One lakh as compensation is also being provided by the Prime Minister Office to the acid attacks victim since 08-10-2016.

In addition to above, the Government implements various other projects / schemes under Nirbhaya Fund, which include Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) which is a pan-India single number  (112)/ mobile app  based  system  for emergencies;  a  cyber-crime  reporting  portal  to  report  obscene  content;  safe  city projects in 8 cities (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai) including infrastructure, technology adoption and capacity building in community through awareness programmes, establishment of state of the  art  DNA  Laboratory  at  CFSL,  Chandigarh;  assistance  to  28  States/  UTs  to strengthen Forensic Science Laboratories; setting up of 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) for speedy disposal of cases of rape and cases under POCSO Act; setting up/ strengthening of Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) in all districts of the  country;  setting  up/  strengthening  of  Women  Help  Desks  (WHDs)  at  Police Stations etc.

Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) has also undertaken several initiatives,  which,  inter-alia  include  training  and  skill  development  programs  for investigation  Officers,  Prosecution  Officers  and  Medical  Officers,  distribution  of Sexual   Assault Evidence Collection (SAEC) Kits to States/ UTs. BPR&D has also prepared Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for 'Women Help Desk at Police Stations' to ensure smooth functioning of Women Help Desks by focusing on four critical components, viz. infrastructure, training, human resource development and response mechanism.  Webinars on women  safety with sensitivity, gender sensitization of police personnel etc. have also been organized by BPR&D.

Recognizing the need for psycho-social counselling to women affected by violence and in distress, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has engaged the services  of  National  Institute  of  Mental  Health  and  Neuro  Sciences  (NIMHANS) for providing  basic  and  advanced  training  under  the  project  named  'Stree Manoraksha' to the staff of One Stop Centres (OSCs) across the country on handling psycho-social and mental health care needs of women facing violence and distress.

The  Government  of  India  attaches  top  priority  to  the  Public  Grievances  and complaints of women and girls received in the Ministry through various channels and regularly  monitor  them  through  periodic  meetings,  weekly  Video  Conferences, emails, phone calls etc.

Moreover, National Commission for Women (NCW) and its  counterparts in States have been spreading awareness through seminars, workshops, audio- visual, print and electronic media etc. to sensitize the people about the safety and security of women and also about various provisions of the legislation etc. In addition, Ministry of  Women  and  Child  Development  and  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  have  issued advisories to States/ UTs from time to time on various issues pertaining to safety and security of women and children. In respect of the registered complaints, NCW takes up the matter with  stakeholders especially the Police Authorities to ensure that the complaints are redressed and brought to logical conclusion.

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