Lok Sabha Question No. 1336 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-09
Subject: Awareness on Violence against Women
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1336

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2024

## AWARENESS ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

## 1336. SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken/proposes to take any initiatives to raise awareness about violence against women in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is contemplating to launch an   intensified door-todoor awareness campaign to inform women about the helpline for violence against women; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d):  Domestic  violence  is  a  social  issue  and  to  curb  this  social  evil,  the Government, through institutions like the National Commission for Women (NCW), National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and their counterparts in States have been spreading awareness through seminars, workshops, audio-visual, print and electronic media etc. to sensitize the citizen about the safety and security of women and children and also about various provisions of laws. 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. NCW has organized a 'Pan India Legal Awareness Programme' for  the  women  at  grass-root  level  in  collaboration  with  National  Legal  Services Authority  to  impart  practical  knowledge  about  the  basic  legal  rights  and  remedies provided under various women related laws, thereby making them aware to face the challenges in real life situations. Under Nirbhaya Fund, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) has also undertaken several initiatives, which, inter-alia includes training and skill development programs for Investigation Officers, Prosecution  Officers  and  Medical  Officers.  BPR&D  has  also  prepared  Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for 'Women Help Desk at Police Stations' to ensure smooth functioning of Women Help Desks. Emphasis has been laid upon appropriate behavioural and attitudinal skills of the police in course of prevention and detection of crime against women and children and interaction with victims of crime. Webinars on women safety with sensitivity, gender sensitization of police personnel etc. have also been organized by BPR&D.

Nevertheless, the Central Government gives highest priority to ensuring safety and security of women and is implementing "Mission Shakti" an umbrella scheme for safety, security and empowerment of women. The Scheme include components of 'One Stop Centers (OSCs)', under which integrated services such as Medical Aid, Psycho-social  Counselling,  Police  Facilitation,  Legal  Aid  and  Counselling  and Temporary Shelter upto 5 days are provided under one roof and Universalisation of Women Helplines (181-WHL), which provide emergency and non-emergency services to women in need by connecting them with appropriate authorities and also provide information services. Besides, Emergency Response Support System (ERSS), which is a pan-India single number (112) / mobile app-based system for emergencies, is also available  to  women  in  distress.  In  addition,  under  Nirbhaya  Fund,  the  Central Government has provided assistance  to  States/  UTs  for  setting  up/  strengthening Women Help Desks (WHDs) in all police stations. Further, Women Helpline (WHL) has been integrated with Emergency Response Support System (112) in 33 States / Union Territories (UT's), and with Child Helpline (1098) in 30 States / UT's.

******