In December 2012, the infamous Nirbhaya case shook the nation, leading to massive protests, demanding change and strengthening of women’s security measures. To address the safety and empowerment of women, especially in Delhi which is also infamously referred to as the ‘rape capital’ of the nation, the then Congress-led UPA government in 2013 created the ‘Nirbhaya Fund’, the purpose of which was to allocate resources for the purpose of women’s safety. Ten years on, the effectiveness of the Nirbhaya Fund in improving women’s safety in Delhi remains a subject of scrutiny.

Set up in 2013, the Nirbhaya Fund aims to act as a dedicated resource for implementing initiatives focused on enhancing women’s security and safety. This non-lapsable fund is managed by the Union Ministry of Finance, with the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development responsible for appraising schemes and monitoring their progress.

Also Read:Rise in serious crimes like rape, murder in capital: Delhi Police

A decade has passed since the harrowing incident of 2012, when a 23-year-old paramedic student was beaten, tortured and gang-raped in the national capital in the bus she was travelling in on December 16, 2012. She died at a hospital in Singapore a few days later. The incident was a watershed moment in India’s history that ignited nationwide protests and prompted the creation of the Nirbhaya Fund, which was established with the promise of making the nation and its capital Delhi, a safer place for women. However, the question that lingers is whether it has lived up to its objectives.

A distressing trend

According to Ministry of Women and Child Development data, as on April 28, 2023, around Rs 12,008.5 crore has been appraised under the ‘Nirbhaya’ project, of which only Rs 4,923 crore has been released and Rs 2,521 crore has been utilised (which is roughly around 21% of the appraised amount and 51% of the released amount). It is deeply worrying that not even half of the money allocated for the Fund has been used, raising concerns among citizens about its effectiveness.

Data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), points out a distressing trend. Among Union Territories, Delhi recorded the highest rate of crime against women in 2021 at 147.6 per cent. It also topped in absolute number of cases registered, recording an increase over the past three years from 13,395 in 2019 to 14,277 in 2021.

‘Implementation lacks seriousness’

Women’s rights activist and founder of PARI, Yogita Bhayana, expressed her disappointment saying there has been lack of proper monitoring of the usage of the Nirbhaya Fund.

“When this fund was launched, it had multiple purposes, aiming to prevent sexual violence and help sexual violence victims. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been utilised as it should have been. Every year, it gets released but gets accumulated and carried over to the next year. It was intended to be allocated to various authorities, including the Women and Child Ministry, but there seems to be a lack of proper monitoring, initiative, and seriousness in its implementation,” Bhayana told FinancialExpress.com.

“It’s been over ten years, and it’s disheartening to see that it hasn’t been taken on as a mission but rather done for the sake of it. Whether it was under the Congress government or the present one, neither seemed genuinely committed to its effective utilisation. The problem of women’s safety is worsening day by day, and we continue to witness cases similar to Nirbhaya’s. We know the problem is there, we know the fund is there, but where is the gap? The gap lies in the lack of initiative, a proper monitoring body, and the Women and Child Ministry’s indifference to this issue,” Bhayana added.

“There is a positive aspect to the fund, as compensation does eventually come through. However, it arrives a year later when medical aid is needed for the survivor. This delay raises the question of the compensation’s utility when it comes after such a long time,” she pointed out.

Also Read:NCP writes to Maharashtra DGP, seeks immediate withdrawal of vehicles procured under Nirbhaya Fund

The ‘Delhi experience’

Women who shared their experiences with FinancialExpress.com say that the trauma of the 2012 incident lives on in their minds.

Deepali Desai, a 34-year-old former journalist, currently working in the development sector, says women still fear walking on the streets alone even today.

Sharing her personal experience, Desai said, “I shifted to Delhi in 2013, immediately after the Nirbhaya incident happened. My parents were also very scared about me moving to Delhi, so there was always an underlying fear of how unsafe the city was. The approach was also driven by fear. For example, I would avoid walking in dimly lit lanes. In my ten years in Delhi, I have never taken a bus because the fear is always there. Even now, if I have to travel for work or any other purpose in Delhi, I always insist on using office cabs because it provides a little relief, and you feel slightly comforted. I’m still scared of using public transportation alone.”

“I know many girls, including my friends, do use it, but there is a constant fear due to the numerous incidents of violence and crimes against women. If the NCRB data indicates that the crimes against women have increased, I feel there is a collective responsibility that is lacking, starting with the government and ending with the citizens,” she added.

“Even when women seek help from women’s helplines, there is a fear of judgment from the administration,” Desai added.

Founder of Street Level Awareness Program (SLAP), Mriganka Dadwal, told FinancialExpress.com that there must be “zero tolerance” for rape in the country.

“Despite increased discussion, 49 crimes against women per hour persist in the national capital, while many still hesitate to intervene, often choosing to be passive bystanders. It’s high time for our society to adopt a zero-tolerance policy. Why do we only take to the streets with candlelight marches when a heinous crime like rape occurs? Why do we silence our girls when they face issues like harassment, stalking, or offensive comments just because it’s not as big as rape? It’s time for people to stand up with a zero-tolerance policy and confront wrongdoers right then and there,” she said.

The activist added, “If a person harasses a girl in broad daylight, and nobody confronts him, allowing him to get away with it, then tomorrow, if they commit a more serious offence, it will give them the confidence that they can probably get away with that too. We, as a society, need the law to make them afraid, and as a society, must firmly say ‘zero-tolerance.”