Bengaluru to get Rs 667 cr from Nirbhaya Fund

A proposal for financial aid from the Centre's Nirbhaya Fund to improve surveillance at public places for safety of women in Bengaluru, establish women police outposts and create "safety islands" at vulnerable locations has got approval of a high-powered committee.

The project worth Rs 667 crore was "appraised" by the empowered committee of officers under the Nirbhaya Fund for Bengaluru at its meeting here on Thursday.

The projects, cleared by the committee under "safe city proposals" for Bengaluru, also included placement of the NGO (non-government organisation) volunteers at women's helpdesk in police stations and establishment of critical care response units at "leading hospitals."

"It also includes introduction of Rani Channamma teams of women to sensitize the public," the Women and Child Development Ministry said in a statement after the meeting.

WCD Ministry's secretary Rakesh Srivastava chaired the meeting of the empowered committee of officers which is responsible for for appraising and recommending proposals for women's safety and security.

During the meeting, the panel cleared proposals for the 'safe city' projects for seven other cities-Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Lucknow-for grant grant of financial aid under the  Nirbhaya  Fund.

"Safe city proposals for the eight cities were appraised by the committee, amounting to a total of Rs. 2,919.55 crore. This is a major new initiative being taken under the  Nirbhaya  Fund, taking a comprehensive approach to women's safety in eight major cities of India, " the ministry said.

The plans have been prepared in coordination with the municipal corporations and police commissionerates of these eight cities, it added.

Besides, the panel at its meeting also approved a proposal for setting up of "a model" forensic science laboratory in Chandigarh with advanced infrastructure and equipment.

A proposal for installation of panic button on mobile phones in Uttar Pradesh to provide emergency response to women in distress also got approval of the empowered committee.

"A proposal with financial outlay of Rs 99.76 crore has been appraised for the forensic lab project in Chandigarh. The proposed lab will help address the gap of forensic DNA analysis of pending sexual assault cases in the country," the ministry said.