The Government of India has issued the Guidelines for utilization of ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ with the approval of the Union Finance Minister. The Guidelines are as follows:
- Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) is the nodal authority which can be approached by various Ministries/Departments with the proposals/schemes, to be funded from ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ targeted to strengthen the safety and security of women in the country.
- Ministry of WCD would appraise these schemes to decide their suitability to qualify for getting funds from the ‘Nirbhaya Fund’.
- Ministry of WCD shall forward the suitable proposals to Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) for necessary budgetary allocations in the respective Demands. DEA shall appraise the proposal on financial and other aspects to avoid any duplicity of schemes/Government efforts to strengthen safety and security of women in the country.
- Budget Division (DEA), with the approval of Finance Minister would approve the funding of schemes from the fund and would also be the nodal Ministry for any accretion into and withdrawal from the fund.
- The respective line Ministries/Departments shall take necessary action for approval of SFC/EFC/PIB and Cabinet for implementation of the scheme on the ground.
- Ministry of WCD shall be the nodal Ministry to review and monitor the progress of these schemes in conjunction with the line Ministries/Departments.
In the General Budget 2014-15, the following schemes were announced by the Finance Minister for funding through Nirbhaya Fund:
- ‘Schemes on backend integration of distress signal from victims with mobile vans and control rooms’ administered by Ministry of Home Affairs - ₹ 150.00 crore;
- ‘Scheme on Women Safety on Public Road Transport’ administered by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways - ₹ 50.00 crore.
An amount of ₹ 1000.00 crore has also been announced in the General Budget 2015-16. As on date, the total amount for the scheme is ₹ 3000.00 crore.
