Lok Sabha Question No. 1442 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-28
Subject: Implementation of Schemes under Nirbhaya Fund
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: K. Subbarayan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1442

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2023

## IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHEMES UNDER NIRBHAYA FUND

## 1442.  SHRI SUBBARAYAN K.:

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

- (a) whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to a study conducted by Vidhi  Centre  for  Legal  Policy  on  the  effect  of  the  Nirbhaya  Fund  set  up  by  the Government revealing that the distribution and utilization of the fund has not been up to the mark;
- (b) if so, the details of the funds raised so far, the funds allocated for various projects for safety of women and the actual utilization of funds by various sectors, Statewise; and
- (c) the action taken for the effective implementation of the various projects launched under this fund?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b)      The Government of India had set up a dedicated fund called  'Nirbhaya Fund for implementation of initiatives aimed at  enhancing  safety and security of women in the country. An  amount of Rs.7212.85 Cr. has been provided under the Nirbhaya Fund till the current financial year and an amount of Rs. 4923 cr.has been released for the approved projects.  Under the Nirbhaya Fund  a total of 42 projects  have been appraised by the EC.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 /UT's  depend upon various factors such as following up of  prescribed financial norms under GFR(General Financial Rules), and submission of  utilisation certificates/Statement of Expenditure etc  by the state governments/UT administrations. Further, some projects have recurring components and take long time to complete.

- (c)             Subsequent to the appraisal of the projects by the Empowered Committee of the  Nirbhaya  Fund,  concerned  Ministries  obtain  the  approval  of  the  CFA(competent financial authority)  and get the  fund sanctioned/allocated in their budget, and   release to the state governments/UT administration/implementing agencies. The Ministries  monitor the implementation of their  projects regularly. However, Ministry of Women and Child Development being the Nodal Ministry also monitors the implementation  of  projects  under  Nirbhaya  Fund  through  the  Empowered  Committee, which meets on a regular basis and reviews the status of implementation of projects, in conjunction with the concerned Ministries/ Departments. Mid-way course corrections are suggested wherever required. The Empowered Committee has met 4 times in 2020-21, 5 times in 2021-22 and 4 times in 2022-23. Meeting of the EC was last held on 24 th  July, 2023.

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