The government on Wednesday said that it has utilised ₹5,846.08 crore, nearly 76% of the Nirbhaya Fund, to enhance women’s safety and security.
A total of ₹7,712.85 crore has been allocated under the Nirbhaya Fund up to the financial year 2024-25.
To ensure that police stations are more women-friendly and approachable, as they serve as the first and primary point of contact for any woman seeking help, 14,658 Women Help Desks (WHDs) have been set up, 13,743 of which are headed by women police officers, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Savitri Thakur, informed the Rajya Sabha.
Cyber forensic-cum-training labs have also been established in 33 states/UTs, with 24,264 personnel trained to handle cyber-related cases.
To provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence and to facilitate immediate, emergency, and non-emergency access to a range of services—including police, medical aid, legal assistance, and psychological support—802 One Stop Centres (OSCs) have been made functional across 36 states/UTs, assisting over 10.80 lakh women so far.
For women in distress, the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112) has been established across all states and UTs, ensuring computer-aided dispatch of police and field resources, the minister said. Since its launch, the system has handled over 43 crore calls.
In addition to ERSS, a fully operational, dedicated Women Helpline (WHL-181) is available across India, except in West Bengal. The WHL has been integrated with ERSS, handling over 2.10 crore calls and assisting more than 84.43 lakh women so far.
To ensure swift justice for victims of heinous sexual offences, the government has been providing financial assistance to states and UTs for setting up Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) since 2019.
So far, 790 FTSCs have been approved, of which 745, including 404 exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) courts, are operational across 30 states/UTs. These courts have disposed of over 3,06,000 cases related to rape and offences under the POCSO Act across the country, Thakur said.
(Inputs from IANS)
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