Six months after the finance minister announced a `1,000 crore “Nirbhaya fund” for the safety and empowerment of women, the women and child development (WCD) ministry seems to have made a headway.
With an aim to provide access justice to affected women, the ministry has proposed a scheme called “Shubh” (Sensitising and Handholding for Social, Understanding, Balance, and Harmony) to provide financial support and to protect and provide justice to women affected with violence. This will also include mapping of resources, identifying vulnerable areas etc.
The task is proposed to be assigned to specialised agencies that would conduct a mapping of resources and of vulnerable areas/groups.
According to the scheme, financial assistance will be provided for cases of “violence against women” to facilitate access to justice, through facilitation centres that will help in paperwork and will ensure that all affected women are provided assistance/case management services by lawyers.
With an estimated expenditure of `487.5 cores for 2.6 years, the resources for the proposed scheme will be sourced from the “Nirbhaya” fund.
The WCD has sent the proposal to the finance ministry for their approval after which state will be encouraged to implement it. “It is expected that the new scheme will help changing the mindsets that allow violence against women. Further, it would also result in initiating some community mechanisms which ensure security in private and public places in identified locations, as well as create a facilitating environment,” it said.
Adding, that “100% financial assistance shall be provided to State Governments/UT Administrations for 2.6 years of this plan period, to implement the various components, in a private public model.”
The scheme came into being in memory of a 23-year-old gangrape victim that succumbed to the rape inflicted brutal injuries in December 2012.
According to the WCD, an analysis of existing interventions reveals that while legislative measures available are comprehensive, more quality services for women and girls affected by violence and sustained interventions for prevention of such violence which involve communities, are needed for creating behaviour change.
All components are proposed to be implemented by the State Government/UT Administration of the State/UT.