Government Continues Women Safety Scheme till 2025-26

The Indian government has decided to extend its flagship scheme for women safety until 2025-26 with a budget approval of Rs 1,179.72 crore. This decision aims to combat the rising incidents of crimes against women across the country, as evidenced by recent statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

Key Points

1. Budget Approval and Implementation

• The union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to continue the ‘Safety of Women’ umbrella scheme.
• The total cost approved is Rs 1,179.72 crore, allocated from both the MHA budget and the Nirbhaya Fund.

2. Amendments and Legal Deterrence

• Stricter laws and amendments in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act aim to provide stringent deterrence against offenses targeting women.

3. Collaborative Projects with States

• The government, in collaboration with states and union territories, has initiated various projects to enhance women safety.
• These projects focus on mechanisms for timely intervention and investigation of crimes against women, as well as capacity building for law enforcement.

4. Continuation of Projects

• Notable projects to be continued under the umbrella scheme include the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 2.0, upgrading forensic laboratories, strengthening DNA analysis and cyber-forensic capacities, and establishing anti-human trafficking units.

5. Crime Statistics and Focus Areas

• Data from the NCRB highlights prevalent crimes against women, with a significant number of cases related to cruelty by husbands or relatives, kidnapping, assault with intent to outrage modesty, and rape.
• The annual crime report underscores the alarming rate of missing young girls and women, with Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal reporting the highest incidents.