Funds in limbo

The data compiled by the ministry of women and child development regarding the Nirbhaya Fund (for implementation of women’s safety initiatives) throws up a shocker. Of the Rs2,264.91 crore that has been released to state governments, only Rs252.08 crore (around 11 per cent) has been utilised. However, Ashish Shrivastava, joint secretary, ministry of women and child development, pointed out that the figures are based on utilisation certificates that are issued after a project is audited. Shrivastava said subsequent instalments to a project are released only after the states obtain these certificates.

Delhi received the lion’s share of the funds—more than Rs390 crore, but has utilised less than five per cent. Maharashtra, which received around Rs195 crore, has shown utilisation of an abysmal Rs19.41 lakh (0.1 per cent). Sources said that the state has a poor record even in the utilisation of anganwadi funds. The funds are allocated as per the proposals approved. It may be possible that the states which have low utilisation have done some work, but have either not managed to finish the project, or have been too tardy in getting the certification. According to the government, the top performers in utilisation of funds are Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Chandigarh and Nagaland.

The fund is administered by the department of economic affairs under the finance ministry. Any project that is submitted is vetted by an empowered committee headed by the secretary, ministry of women and child development, with representations from the various stakeholder ministries—finance, home affairs, railways, electronics and IT, and road transport and highways. The projects should have a direct impact on the safety and security of women, make optimum use of existing infrastructure and innovative technology, and ensure protection of the woman’s identity. They should not duplicate existing schemes.

Rekha Sharma, chairperson of the National Commission for Women, said analysis of the data had shown a sorry situation, especially in light of rising violence against women. “There needs to be a monitoring mechanism to ensure effectiveness,” she said. “Collaboration with various stakeholders in implementing these schemes is required.” The Kailash Satyarthi Foundation for Children, which did an analysis of the Nirbhaya Fund data, notes that 18 states and Union territories utilised less than 15 per cent of the allocation, which showed “utter disregard on the issue of women safety”.

So far, 32 projects have been cleared by the empowered committee. Twelve proposals were deferred with certain directions and new proposals are yet to be examined, and 34 were either rejected or given only conditional recommendation as they lacked clarity. Among the proposals cleared in the last two years are projects for strengthening forensic laboratories in 13 states, setting up of 1,023 fast-track courts, a Rs456-crore proposal for customisation and management of state-wise vehicle tracking system, and setting up and strengthening women help desks in 10,000 police stations. The fund has also been used to set up 728 One Stop Centres for violence-affected women, starting women helplines and appointing nearly 10,000 Mahila Police Volunteers across the country.