The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved continuation of 1,023 fast track special courts, including 389 exclusive POCSO courts, as a centrally sponsored scheme for another two years.
Briefing the media, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said out of 31 States and Union Territories, 28 have started the scheme. West Bengal is one of the States which has not started the scheme, he pointed out, adding “We are hopeful they will start it soon.”
The scheme would continue from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2023 with an outlay of `1572.86 crore — `971.70 crore as central share and `601.16 crore as State share, an official statement said.
The central share is to be funded from ‘Nirbhaya’ Fund. The scheme was launched on October 2, 2019.
Incidents of rape of minor girls below the age of twelve years and women below the age of sixteen years have shaken the conscience of the entire nation.