Even after three years have passed since the Nirbhaya rape on December 16, 2012, the funds allotted by the Central government for upgrading safety and security of women across the country lie only on papers. Though there is an incessant growth of crimes against women and minor girls lately, the funds have not led to any drastic change in the present situation where at least 6 rape cases are reported daily in the national Capital.
In 2013, the Central government under then Finance Minister P Chidambaram had sanctioned ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ under which numerous proposals were laid down including setting up of a One Stop Center and universalisation of women helpline numbers across the country.
Since these proposals were allegedly taken up by the Home Ministry and later on passed to the Ministry of Women and Child Development, adequate money was sanctioned for their implementation. According to information provided by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Rs 18.58 crore has been allocated for the establishment of One Stop Center while Rs 69. 49 crore has been allocated for establishing women helpline numbers across the country.
Meanwhile, as per the proposals appraised and recommended under the Nirbhaya Fund by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Rs 200 crore was the amount allocated under the Nirbhaya Fund that would be used for the creation of Central Victim Compensation Fund (CVCF) for supporting states and union territories. To set up a specialised unit for the investigation of crimes against women, the Home Ministry had sanctioned Rs 324 crore for establishing Investigative Units for Crimes against Women (IUCAW) in all police districts across the country.
In a reply to questions raised in the Rajya Sabha on the use of Nirbhaya Funds, the Ministry of Women and Child Development stated that it has released Rs 10.71 crore in respect to the implementation of the One Stop Center while Rs 13.92 crore has been sanctioned for Women Helpline.