Question : Nirbhaya Fund

(a) the salient features of Nirbhaya Fund administer by the Government for enhancing safety and security of women in this country indicating its corpus and the funds allocated thereunder since its inception;
(b) the details of project proposals of various Ministries/Departments and States/ UTs received, appraised and recommended/ approved along with the funds provided and number of beneficiaries thereunder since its inception;
(c) the details of projects completed by the Government out of the total projects funded thereunder;
(d) whether the cases of noncompliance of rules/guidelines for sanction of projects under the fund have been reported to the Government and if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;
(e) whether the Government has any mechanism to assess the effectiveness of women safety initiatives that are funded by the Nirbhaya Fund and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the further measures taken for the judicious utilisation of funds and sanction of projects under the Nirbhaya Fund for its better implementation?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI KRISHNA RAJ)

(a) Ministry of Finance, Government of India had set up a dedicated fund called Nirbhaya Fund for implementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security for women in the country. The corpus transferred to the Public Account for the Nirbhaya fund till 2015-16 is Rs. 2000 Crore. Recognizing the need to strengthen the mechanism for scrutiny and sanction of the proposals under Nirbhaya Fund, Ministry of Finance (DEA) has issued guidelines from time to time for administration and operationalization of the Fund.

(b) & (c) Empowered Committee of Officers, which is an inter-ministerial committee, appraises and recommends various proposals/projects proposed by different Ministries/Departments/States. Under Nirbhaya fund, 16 proposals amounting to Rs.2348.85 Crores have been received so far, out of which 15 proposals amounting to Rs. 2047.85 Crores have been appraised and recommended by the Empowered Committee. The list of projects appraised and recommend under Nirbhaya fund is annexed.

Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing three schemes under Nirbhaya Fund namely, One Stop Centre (OSC), Women Helpline(WHL) and Mahila Police Volunteer. One Stop Centres have been set up to facilitate access to an integrated range of services including medical, legal, and psychological support to women affected by violence to be funded through Nirbhaya Fund. The One Stop Centres will be integrated with 181 and other existing helplines. So far, 84 One Stop Centres have become operational. The number of women assisted as informed by the States is 1143. The Scheme of Universalisation of Women Helpline is intended to provide 24 hours immediate and emergency response to women affected by violence through referral and information about women related government schemes programs across the country through a single uniform number. The MWCD in collaboration with MHA has envisaged engagement of Mahila Police Volunteer in State/UTs who will act as a link between Police and Community and facilitate women in distress. The proposals of different Ministries, appraised and recommended so far by the Empowered Committee are at different stages of implementation.

(d) No, Madam.

(e) & (f) The Empowered Committee of Officers, under the chairmanship of Secretary, WCD, which is an inter-ministerial committee appraises and recommends various proposals/projects proposed by different Ministries/Departments/States. The concerned Ministries then take up the sanction and implementation of the schemes/proposals so appraised as they do for their other schemes/projects. This Committee regularly reviews the implementation of the projects and try to ensure judicious utilization of funds from time to time with the concerned Ministries.

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