Union Cabinet Approves Continuation of ‘Safety of Women’ Scheme

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Ministry of Home Affairs’ proposal for the continuation of the Umbrella Scheme on ‘Safety of Women.’ The scheme will be implemented at a total cost of Rs. 1179.72 crore from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Out of the total project outlay, Rs. 885.49 crore will be provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) from its budget, while Rs. 294.23 crore will be funded from the Nirbhaya Fund.

Ensuring the safety of women is a multifaceted challenge, requiring a comprehensive approach that includes stringent deterrence through strict laws, effective delivery of justice, timely redressal of complaints, and easily accessible institutional support structures for victims. The recent amendments in the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, and the Indian Evidence Act have strengthened deterrence against offenses targeting women.

The government, in collaboration with states and union territories, has launched various projects aimed at enhancing women’s safety. These projects focus on strengthening mechanisms for timely intervention and investigation of crimes against women, improving efficiency in investigation and crime prevention in such cases.

Under the Umbrella Scheme for “Safety of Women,” the government proposes to continue the following projects:

112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 2.0: Enhancing emergency response capabilities.
Upgradation of Central Forensic Sciences Laboratories: Including the establishment of the National Forensic Data Centre.

Strengthening of DNA Analysis and Cyber Forensic Capacities: Focused on State Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs).

Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children: Addressing the growing threat of cybercrimes.

Capacity Building and Training: Specifically for investigators and prosecutors handling sexual assault cases against women and children.

Women Help Desk & Anti-human Trafficking Units: Providing on-ground support and assistance.
This continued focus on the safety of women reaffirms the government’s commitment to creating a secure environment for every woman in the country.

The projects under the Umbrella Scheme aim to address various facets of women’s safety, from emergency response systems to advanced forensic capabilities and the prevention of cybercrimes.