Lok Sabha Question No. 3768 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-11
Subject: Gender based Violence
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3768

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2023

## GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

## 3768.  SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government agrees with the view that addressing Gender-Based Violence requires a comprehensive, survivor-centred response system, based on the right to safety, confidentiality, non-discrimination and self-determination for all survivors;
- (b) if so, the steps proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule of  the Constitution of India and the responsibility to maintain law and order, protection of  life  and  property  of  the  citizens  including  investigation  and  prosecution  of  crime against women rests primarily with the respective State Governments .

Constitution of India guarantees the right to equality and also provides for positive interventions by the State to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and to ensure  their  holistic  development  and  empowerment.  Keeping  in  view  the  vision articulated in Constitutional provisions, there has been enactment of various legislations such as the Indian Penal Code, the Criminal Law Amendments of 2013 and 2018, the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and the Prohibition of  Child  Marriage Act,  2006  which  addresses  the  issue  of gender inequality, discrimination and violence faced by women.

Further, Government of India has introduced various schemes and projects like One Stop Centres (OSCs) for providing support and integrated range of services under one roof to the  women affected by violence and in distress; Women Helpline (WHL) running  on  toll  free  telephonic  short  code  181  ,to  provide  emergency  and  non emergency response to women affected by violence  across the country ; Beti Bachao Beti  Padhao  (BBBP) to  stop  gender biased sex  selection and  to  spread  awareness about education and issues relating to empowerment of girls,  and Shakti Sadan for women facing difficult circumstances or destitution under umbrella scheme of Mission Shakti.

In addition, several projects/ schemes are implemented by Central Government through other Ministries /Departments /Implementing Agencies 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;  training  and  skill  development  programs  for  Investigation Officers,  Prosecution  Officers  and  Medical  Officers;  distribution  of  Sexual  Assault Evidence Collection (SAEC) Kits to States/ UTs; establishment of State of 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) including exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) Courts 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. The Government has also put in place Investigation Tracking System  for  Sexual  Offences,  an  online  analytic  tool  for  tracking  and  monitoring  of investigation. A National Database of Sexual Offenders (NDSO) has also been created.

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, 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. A book titled 'Women's Safety and Securitya Handbook for First  Responders  and  Investigators  in  the  Police'  has  also  been  prepared  for  the purpose of prevention and investigation of crime against women with specific reference to the crime of sexual assault, which includes investigation, victim compensation and rehabilitation.  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.

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 to support the women facing violence and women in distress.

Further,  the  National  Commission  for Women  (NCW),  in  addition  to  handling complaints through regular mode, also takes cognizance of the grievances relating to domestic violence reported in social media. The complaints received by NCW are acted upon by coordinating with victims, police and other authorities to provide immediate assistance.

*****