Lok Sabha Question No. 5734 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Initiatves for  Women in Deplorable Condition
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 5734

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2026

## INITIATVES FOR WOMEN IN DEPLORABLE CONDITION

## 5734. SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA:

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

- (a)    whether  the  Government  has  conducted  an  assessment  of  women  who  have  turned  to prostitution, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the details of the steps being taken by the Government to improve the deplorable condition of such women; and
- (c)  the number of women beggars apprehended in the National Capital and other metropolitan cities during the last three years?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c):   The Ministry of Women and Child Development does not maintain centralized data on the number of women who have turned to prostitution and women beggars apprehended in the National Capital and other metropolitan cities.

'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  Government  of  India  has  enacted  the  Immoral  Traffic  (Prevention)  Act,  1956  (ITPA)  to address  trafficking  and  commercial  sexual  exploitation  and  related  offences.  The  Act  defines prostitution in the context of commercial sexual exploitation and provides for penal action against those who facilitate, abet or profit from such exploitation. Implementation of the Act is primarily the responsibility of State Governments and UT Administrations.

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. Under 'Sambal', One Stop Centres (OSCs), provide 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, psychosocial counselling to needy women. Further, Women Helpline (WHL) under 'Sambal', 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). Under 'Samarthya', Shakti Sadan provides an Integrated Relief and Rehabilit ation 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. In order to strengthen transparency and accessibility in service delivery with respect to reliefs and rehabilitation to women in distress, MWCD launched Mission Shakti Dashboard, on 22.01.2025 (https://missionshakti.wcd.gov.in/). The dashboard hosts updated lists of Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs), Nodal Officers of various schemes including OSCs, WHL, Shakti Sadan 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. 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 ERSS112, 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.

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