Nirbhaya Fund

The Nirbhaya Fund is a dedicated corpus established by the Government of India to support initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security of women across the country. Instituted in 2013 following the brutal Delhi gang rape case of December 2012, the fund represents the government’s commitment to strengthening women’s protection mechanisms, improving public safety infrastructure, and promoting justice for victims of gender-based violence.

Background

The horrific Nirbhaya case—in which a young woman was gang-raped and fatally assaulted in Delhi—sparked nationwide outrage and widespread demand for stronger laws and systemic measures to safeguard women. The name “Nirbhaya,” meaning “fearless,” was given by the media to symbolise courage and resistance against violence.
In response, the Government of India announced the creation of the Nirbhaya Fund in the Union Budget of 2013–14. The fund was designed to finance innovative schemes and projects for women’s safety, coordinated across multiple ministries and state governments.

Objectives of the Nirbhaya Fund

The fund’s overarching goal is to ensure women’s safety and empowerment through preventive, protective, and responsive mechanisms. The key objectives include:

• Strengthening the safety and security infrastructure for women in public spaces.
• Supporting initiatives for quick response and assistance to victims of violence.
• Facilitating technological interventions for prevention and monitoring.
• Enhancing the capacity of law enforcement agencies to deal with crimes against women.
• Promoting rehabilitation, legal aid, and support services for survivors.

Administration and Management

The Ministry of Finance is the nodal authority for the Nirbhaya Fund, responsible for its financial administration. The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) manages the corpus, while project appraisals and approvals are handled through an Empowered Committee of Officers chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD).
Funds are disbursed to various ministries and departments implementing women safety projects, such as:

• Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
• Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
• Ministry of Railways
• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
• State Governments and Union Territories

The MWCD acts as the nodal ministry for coordination, oversight, and progress monitoring of Nirbhaya Fund projects.

Major Schemes and Initiatives under the Nirbhaya Fund

Over the years, several central and state-level initiatives have been launched using Nirbhaya Fund allocations. Some of the prominent schemes include:
1. Emergency Response Support System (ERSS):

• A nationwide integrated system providing immediate assistance to women in distress.
• Operates through a single emergency helpline number ‘112’, connecting police, ambulance, and fire services.
• Accessible through calls, SMS, or the 112 mobile app.

2. Safe City Projects:

• Implemented in major urban centres to improve public safety infrastructure for women.
• Involves installation of CCTV surveillance, smart street lighting, panic buttons, and women’s safety patrols.
• Cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Lucknow are part of this initiative.

3. One Stop Centre Scheme (OSC):

• Provides integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence.
• Offers medical aid, police facilitation, legal counselling, and psychological support under one roof.
• Known as “Sakhi Centres”, these are operational in almost every district across India.

4. Central Victim Compensation Fund (CVCF):

• Ensures financial compensation to victims of sexual offences under Section 357A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
• The Nirbhaya Fund supports uniform implementation of compensation schemes across states.

5. Mahila Police Volunteer (MPV) Scheme:

• Trains women community volunteers to act as a link between police and local communities for addressing gender-based violence and crimes.

6. Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO):

• Developed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to track and monitor the progress of sexual offence cases across police jurisdictions, ensuring accountability and faster investigation.

7. Installation of CCTV and Panic Buttons in Public Transport:

• Funded under the Nirbhaya Fund to ensure women’s safety in buses and taxis.
• Mandatory provisions for panic buttons in public transport vehicles are being implemented across several states.

8. Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC):

• Establishes dedicated cyber forensic laboratories and online reporting portals to counter cyber harassment and exploitation.

Financial Allocation and Utilisation

• The Nirbhaya Fund was initially launched with an allocation of ₹1,000 crore in 2013–14, which has been periodically augmented.
• By 2024, the cumulative corpus exceeded ₹6,000 crore.
• The fund is non-lapsable, meaning unspent balances carry forward to subsequent years.
• Utilisation rates have varied across states, with some facing implementation delays due to administrative bottlenecks or lack of project readiness.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The Empowered Committee of Officers regularly reviews project implementation. Ministries are required to submit quarterly reports detailing expenditure, progress, and outcomes. Independent evaluations are also conducted to ensure transparency and accountability.
The Public Financial Management System (PFMS) tracks fund utilisation to avoid duplication and to improve efficiency.

Challenges in Implementation

Despite its ambitious objectives, the Nirbhaya Fund has faced several operational challenges:

• Under-utilisation of funds: Many states have been slow in proposing or executing projects.
• Coordination issues: Overlap among ministries and unclear responsibilities have delayed approvals.
• Infrastructure and technical gaps: Shortages of trained personnel and technical expertise hindered the effective functioning of initiatives such as Safe City Projects.
• Awareness and accessibility: Beneficiaries, especially in rural areas, often remain unaware of available services like One Stop Centres or helplines.

Achievements and Impact

Despite challenges, the Nirbhaya Fund has significantly advanced the agenda of women’s safety in India:

• Over 700 One Stop Centres have been established, assisting lakhs of women.
• The 112 emergency helpline has become operational in all states and union territories.
• Safe City Projects have improved urban surveillance and response mechanisms.
• Law enforcement agencies now have improved technological tools to monitor and investigate crimes against women.

These initiatives have contributed to better coordination between government departments and stronger institutional responses to gender-based violence.

Recent Developments

• The government has emphasised integration of services under the Mission Shakti framework, merging schemes like One Stop Centres and Mahila Helplines for unified implementation.
• New projects are being introduced for digital safety, workplace protection, and women’s transport security.
• State governments are increasingly leveraging the fund to launch region-specific initiatives for vulnerable groups.