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Strengthening Women’s Safety in India: A Multi-Faceted Approach

Last Updated

30th March, 2025

Date Published

30th March, 2025

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A realistic depiction of women's safety, featuring a confident woman walking alone at night in a well-lit urban environment.

Context:

Released by the Press Information Bureau on March 29, 2025, this document from the Ministry of Women and Child Development details India’s comprehensive efforts to enhance women’s safety. It covers legal reforms, financial initiatives like the Nirbhaya Fund, and support systems, emphasizing empowerment and security across all societal sectors.

Key Information in Points:

  • Women’s Empowerment: Women are excelling in diverse fields—business, politics, science, sports—yet safety remains critical for true empowerment.
  • Government Focus: India employs a multi-pronged strategy—legal reforms, financial support, and helplines—to ensure women’s safety and security.
  • Nirbhaya Fund: Rs. 7,712.85 crore allocated by 2024-25, with Rs. 5,846.08 crore (76%) utilized for safety projects nationwide.
  • Fund Utilization: Supports One Stop Centres (OSCs), ERSS-112, Women Helpline (181), Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), Anti-Human Trafficking Units, Women Help Desks (WHDs), Cyber Forensic Labs, Safe City Projects, transport safety, and victim compensation.
  • One Stop Centres (OSCs): 812 operational OSCs provide medical, legal, psychological, and shelter support; assisted over 10.80 lakh women since April 2015 (up to January 31, 2025).
  • Women Helpline (181): Launched December 3, 2018, offers 24/7 emergency aid, referrals, and scheme awareness; tracks cases via Sakhi Dashboard.
  • ERSS-112: Unified emergency number integrating police (100), fire (101), ambulance (108), and women/child care (181); features app-based alerts, real-time vehicle tracking, and Public Safety Answering Points in state capitals.
  • SHe-Box Portal: Online platform for workplace sexual harassment complaints, forwarding cases to authorities; applies to all women across sectors.
  • Women Help Desks (WHDs): 14,658 WHDs in police stations, 13,743 led by women officers, enhancing accessibility and responsiveness.
  • Safe City Project: Targets safety in 8 cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow) to reduce gender-based violence in public spaces.
  • Investigation Tracking System (ITSSO): Monitors timely completion of sexual assault investigations.
  • National Database of Sexual Offenders: Identifies repeat offenders to aid investigations.
  • Mission Shakti: Sub-schemes ‘Sambal’ (safety) and ‘Samarthya’ (empowerment) strengthen women-focused interventions.
  • Cyber Crime Portal: Reports online crimes, including child pornography and sexual content.
  • Meri Saheli Initiative: Ensures women’s safety on trains across all railway zones.
  • Mahila Police Volunteers (MPVs): Bridge police and community to assist women in distress.
  • Special Women Police Cells: Dedicated units in police stations for crimes against women.
  • Mental Health Support: Domestic and gender-based violence linked to depression, anxiety, PTSD; Project Stree Manoraksha by NIMHANS trains OSC staff for trauma-informed care.
  • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023: Stringent penalties for sexual offenses (e.g., death penalty for raping girls under 18), expanded definitions, and 1,023 FTSCs (728 operational) for rape/POCSO cases.
  • Domestic Violence Act, 2005: Protects women in shared households from physical/mental harm; NFHS-5 shows spousal violence dropped from 31.2% (2015-16) to 29.3% (2019-21).
  • Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: Bans dowry demands; penalizes harassment/deaths within 7 years of marriage; supported by officers, police, and NGOs.
  • Immoral Traffic Act, 1956: Prevents trafficking and sexual exploitation, offering rescue and rehabilitation.
  • Child Marriage Act, 2006: Enforces prevention via Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) for awareness and prosecution.
  • Workplace Harassment Act, 2013: Mandates Internal/Local Committees; SHe-Box (live since October 19, 2024) received 9 complaints, with 90-day inquiry deadlines.
  • Conclusion: Integrates legal, financial, and psychological support to create a safer, empowering environment for women.

Key Terms:

  • Nirbhaya Fund: Financial allocation for women’s safety projects.
  • One Stop Centres (OSCs): Facilities offering integrated support for violence-affected women.
  • ERSS-112: Unified emergency response system with a single contact number.
  • SHe-Box: Online portal for workplace sexual harassment complaints.
  • Women Help Desks (WHDs): Police station units aiding women’s issues.
  • Mission Shakti: Scheme enhancing women’s safety and empowerment.
  • Project Stree Manoraksha: NIMHANS initiative for trauma-informed mental health care.
  • Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs): Courts for swift handling of rape/POCSO cases.
  • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: 2023 law with strict penalties for sexual crimes.