On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Union Home Ministry on Monday listed out initiatives through the Nirbhaya Fund to enhance the safety and security of women in the country. For his part, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also said that women empowerment has always been the focal point of the policies of the Narendra Modi Government.
The MHA said Rs 200 crore has been sanctioned to States and Union Territories (UTs) to set up women help desks in police stations and to strengthen anti-human trafficking units in all districts of the country.
A separate women safety division has also been set up in the home ministry to sensitise states and UTs on women safety related issues including timely completion of investigation of sexual assault cases, it said.
“The Government has sanctioned Rs 200 crore to States and UTs to set up Women Help Desks in police stations, and to set up or strengthen Anti Human Trafficking Units in all districts of the country as also on vulnerable borders,” the statement said.
The home ministry said the Bureau of Police Research and Development has distributed 14,950 Sexual Assault Evidence Collection kits to states and UTs and these SAEC kits will facilitate the efficient collection, handling and storage of forensic evidence in cases of sexual assault.