Nirbaya Fund: 1,023 Fast Courts set up across India

New Delhi: The Central government has set up one-stop centres in 33 states and Union territories, with an additional 1,023 fast track courts under the Nirbhaya Fund along with providing Rs 2,250 crore under 29 programmed to Ensure Women Safety in India informed the Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani yesterday.

Replying to a question during the Question Hour, Irani told the RS that “The Nirbhaya Fund was set up in 2013 and till July 17, 2019, Rs 2,250 crore in funds have been sent to states to implement 29 programmes for ensuring women safety,” Hans reports.

One-stop centres are in the process of being set up in 33 states and UTs of India and so far a total of 2.20 lakh women have been helped across the country through such centres she informed the house.

Finance Ministry manages the Nirbhaya Fund while an empowered committee headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development gives comments suggestion on whether the projects come under the purview of the Fund she said.

“Setting up of special courts is under the domain of State Governments and High Courts. However, as part of the proposed National Mission for Safety of women (NMSW), a Scheme on the lines of other Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) for setting up Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) has been formulated for expeditious trial and disposal of pending cases of rape and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), Act.

“The Empowered Committee (EC) of Officers constituted under the Framework for Nirbhaya Fund has appraised the project for setting up of FTSCs at a total financial outlay of Rs 767.25 crores,” Smriti Irani said in her reply.