The ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ Scheme is administered by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance. The progress on operationalisation of the ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ for which an amount of Rs. 1000.00 crore has been earmarked is being reviewed at the level of Finance Minister. A proposal for “Establishment of an Integrated Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) platform for supporting Geographical Information System (GIS) based Call tracking and Geographical Positioning System (GPS) based Police vehicle dispatch to respond to women and other distress calls and ensure speedy assistance to them is at an advanced stage of approval. In addition to this, Ministry of Information and Technology is working on a proposal to introduce mandatory provision of SOS Alert Buttons in all new handsets/providing SOS alert system in the existing handsets through free downloading of suitable software. Further, Government has also approved a scheme of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to provide enhanced security for Women in Public Road Transport System in the country. The amount has been credited in a Public Fund and utilization will be as required from time to time.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Emergency response infrastructure expanded to support GIS and GPS dispatch and mandatory SOS features for rapid assistance to distress calls. The Nirbhaya Fund, administered by the Department of Economic Affairs and credited as a public fund, will finance an Integrated Computer Aided Dispatch platform linking GIS-based call tracking with GPS-based police vehicle dispatch, a Road Transport and Highways scheme to enhance women's security in public transport, and Ministry of Information and Technology proposals to provide mandatory or downloadable SOS alert functionality on handsets; utilisation will proceed as required following proposal approvals and ministerial review.