SHILLONG, March 11: The Meghalaya Government is yet to make use of Rs. 1,061.9 lakh for implementation of projects for women safety and security in the state under Nirbhaya Fund.
This was revealed during the ongoing Budget Session here on Friday.
Opposition Chief Whip, George B Lyngdoh, while raising the discussion during a zero-hour notice, alleged low utilisation of funds under Nirbhaya scheme despite the increasing crime rate against women and children in the state.
He also enquired if one-stop centres for women in distress and helpline numbers for women have been created in the state.
In his reply, Social Welfare Minister, Kyrmen Shylla, informed the House that a total amount of Rs 1,7.94 crore has been utilised out of Rs 28.56 crore, which was received under the Nirbhaya Fund from 2016-17 to 2020-2021.
Elucidating further, Shylla said that under the Police department (Home), National Emergency Response System (NERS) Emergency Support System (ERSS) DIAL 112 was implemented, for which Rs 3.18 crore was utilised out of Rs 4.63 crore that was received. He went on to inform that several other schemes were also implemented under the Police department (Home).
According to the Social Welfare Minister, the government also received a one-time grant of Rs 50 lakh to support the Meghalaya Victim Compensation Scheme. Out of that amount, Rs 49.91 lakh has been utilised, he said. He also informed about other expenditures on procuring location-tracking device, panic button, et al, and setting up one-stop centres.
It may be mentioned that the Government of India had set up Nirbhaya Fund for implementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security for women in the country.
An Empowered Committee (EC) of officers constituted under Nirbhaya Framework appraises and recommends the proposals for funding under Nirbhaya Fund in conjunction with the concerned ministries/ departments/ implementing agencies.
After appraisal by the EC, the concerned ministries/departments obtain approval of their respective competent financial authorities to release funds out of their respective budgets and implement the approved projects/schemes directly or through States/union territories/ implementing agencies.
Under the Nirbhaya Fund, One Stop Centre (OSC) Scheme has also been implemented across the country since April 2015.
OSCs aim to facilitate women affected by violence with a range of integrated services under one roof such as police facilitation, medical aid, providing legal and psycho-social counselling and temporary shelter.