Lok Sabha Question No. 2551 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-04
Subject: Utilisation of Nirbhaya Fund
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Ratansinh Magansinh Rathod, Hasmukhbhai Somabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2551

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2023

## UTILISATION OF NIRBHAYA FUND

## 2551.  SHRI RATANSIHN MAGANSINH RATHOD: SHRI PATEL HASMUKHBHAI SOMABHAI:

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

- (a) the objectives of Nirbhaya Fund;
- (b) whether said scheme is being implemented effectively in the State of Gujarat;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  details  of  concerned  bodies  to  whom  the  Nirbhaya  Fund  is  provided  by Government; and
- (e) the total fund utilized during the last two years in the country including Gujarat?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) The Government of India had set up a dedicated fund called 'Nirbhaya Fund' for implementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security for women in the country. The projects sanctioned under Nirbhaya Fund have inter-alia the  following  contours  such  as;  direct  impact  on  safety  and  security  concerns  of women, optimum use of existing infrastructure, and innovative use of technology. An Empowered  Committee  (EC)  of  officers  constituted  under  Nirbhaya  Framework appraises  and  recommends  the  proposals  for  funding  under  Nirbhaya  Fund  in conjunction with the concerned Ministries/ Departments/ Implementing Agencies. After appraisal by the EC, the concerned Ministries/ Departments obtain approval of their respective  competent  financial  authorities  to  release  funds  out  of  their  respective budgets and implement the approved projects/ schemes directly or through States/ UTs/ Implementing Agencies, State/ UT-wise.

The projects sanctioned under Nirbhaya Fund are being implemented across the country including the state of Gujarat. Some of the important projects sanctioned under  Nirbhaya  Fund  including  the  state  of  Gujarat  are  as  follows;  Emergency Response Support System, One Stop Center, universalisation of Women Helpline, Central  Victim  Compensation  Fund,  Cyber  Crime  Prevention  against  Women  & Children (CCPWC), setting up and strengthening Anti Human Trafficking units, setting up and strengthening of women Help Desks in Police stations, setting up of Fast track special courts proposal for customization, deployment and management of state-wise vehicle  tacking  platform,  Safe  city  Project,  strengthening  of  DNA  analysis,  cyber Forensic and related facilities in State Forensic Laboratories, and many more.

An amount of Rs.7212.85crores has been provided under the Nirbhaya Fund till the current financial year and an amount of Rs. 4923crores has been released for the approved projects to the states and UTs by the concerned ministries/departments. Under  the  Nirbhaya  Fund  a  total  of  42  projects  have  been  appraised  by  the Empowered Committee. Out of these, 12 projects have been completed.

While some projects are fully funded by the Central Government, most projects have both central and state shares and are implemented through State Governments/ Union  Territory  Administrations  for  which  Central  Government  releases  funds  to States/  UTs  as  per  prescribed  fund  sharing  pattern.  Release  of  fund  to  the  state governments /UTs depend upon various factors such as following prescribed financial norms  under  General  Financial  Rules  (GFR),  2017  and  submission  of  Utilization Certificates/Statement of Expenditure by the state governments/UT administrations.

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