Lok Sabha Question No. 4728 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: Women's Safety Measures
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dr. Rajkumar Sangwan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4728

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2026

## WOMEN'S SAFETY MEASURES

## 4728.  DR. RAJKUMAR SANGWAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the recent incidents of harassment/misconduct against women in Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government in this regard;
- (c) the details of the specific steps taken by the Government to enhance the safety of women and to prevent such incidents in the said district;
- (d) the  manner in which the Government proposes to empower local law enforcement agencies  to  take  prompt  action  on  complaints  relating  to  women's  safety  and harassment against them; and
- (e) the  details  of  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  effective monitoring and implementation of women's safety measures in the said district?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(a) to (e): '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 crime against women rests with the respective State Governments and UT Administrations; they are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) implements 'Mission Shakti', a scheme in mission mode which aims to strengthen interventions for women safety, security and empowerment across the country. Mission Shakti comprises of two verticals 'Sambal' for safety and security of women and 'Samarthya' for empowerment of women. The 'Sambal' has components of One Stop Centre (OSC), Women Helpline (WHL), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) and Nari Adalat. The 'Samarthya' has components of Shakti Sadan, Sakhi N iwas, Padhan  Mantri  Matru  Vandana  Yojana  (PMMVY),  Palna  and  SANKALP:  Hub  for Empowerment of Women (SANKALP: HEW).

One Stop Centre (OSC) component of Mission Shakti Umbrella Scheme, which is fully funded by the central government is implemented across the country since 1st April, 2015. It provides integrated support and assistance under one roof to women affected by violence and those in distress,  both  in  private  and  public  spaces.  It  also  provides  an  integrated  range  of  services including medical aid, legal aid and advice, temporary shelter, police assistance, psycho-social counselling to needy women. As of 31.12.2026, 926 One Stop Centres (OSCs) are operational across the country, and more than 13.37 lakh women have been assisted. Of these, 96 OSCs are operational in Uttar Pradesh, where over 3 lakh women have received assistance. Women Helpline (WHL), aims to provide 24x7x365 emergency and non-emergency response through telephonic short-code 181 to women, both in public and private spaces by linking them with appropriate authorities such as Police, One Stop Centres, Hospitals, Legal Services Authorities etc.  Additionally,  it  provides  information  about  women  welfare  schemes  and  programs. Women Helpline is operational in 35 States and Union Territories and also integrated with Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112). Through WHL, over 99 lakh women have been assisted across the country including the State of Uttar Pradesh since the inception i.e. from 01.04.2015 till 31.12.2025, of these, over 9.58 lakh women have received assistance in Uttar Pradesh.

Shakti  Sadan  is  an  Integrated  Relief  and  Rehabilitation  Home  for  women  in  distressful situations including trafficked women. It aims at creating a safe and enabling environment for the women in such difficult situations, to enable them to overcome the adverse circumstances. The SANKALP: HEW (Hub for Empowerment of Women), serves as a vehicle to bridge the information and knowledge gap regarding schemes and facilities available for women as well as guide them to avail the benefits and entitlements.

In order to strengthen transparency and accessibility in service delivery with respect to reliefs and  rehabilitation  to  women  in  distress,  the  Ministry  of  WCD  launched  Mission  Shakti Dashboard, on 22.01.2025 (https://missionshakti.wcd.gov.in/). The dashboard hosts updated lists of Protection Officers (POs), Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) and Nodal Officers of  various  schemes,  including  OSCs,  WHL,  Shakti  Sadan,  Sakhi  Niwas  Anganwadi-cumCreches,  etc.  The  portal  also  consolidates  all  major  helplines  for  easy  public  access.  The Mission Shakti Dashboard data is also accessible via the Mission Shakti Mobile Application. A woman in distress can now book an appointment with her nearest OSC through both the portal and the mobile application.

The  Government  of  India  has  set  up  a  dedicated  fund  called  the  'Nirbhaya  Fund'  for implementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security for women including in the State of Uttar Pradesh. All projects/ schemes under Nirbhaya Fund are demand driven. The  fund  provides  financial  assistance  to  Ministries,  Departments,  States  and  UTs  for implementation of various projects such as Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112), Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC), Safe City Project in 8 major cities  namely  Ahmedabad,  Bengaluru,  Chennai,  Delhi,  Hyderabad,  Kolkata,  Lucknow  and Mumbai,  Women  Help  Desks  (WHDs)  in  police  stations,  Anti  Human  Trafficking  Units (AHTUs),  Strengthening  of  DNA  analysis,  cyber  forensic  and  related  facilities  in  State Forensic  Laboratories  (SFSLs),  Setting  up  Fast  Track  Special  Courts  (FTSCs)  including exclusive POCSO courts to dispose of cases pending trial under rape and POCSO Act, etc.

*****