Why has Nirbhaya fund not been used, Rajya Sabha Dy Chairman asks government

NEW DELHI: Taking serious note of a claim by a member, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien today asked the government to examine facts regarding whether the Nirbhaya Fund, set up after the gruesome 2012 Delhi gangrape case, has remained unutilised.

Making a special mention in the House of Elders, Jharna Das Baidya (CPI-M) said the Rs 1,000 crore Nirbhaya Fund set up by the UPA government in 2013 has "remained unspent".

Following the gangrape of a paramedic in a moving bus the national capital in December 2012 who subsequently succumbed to injuries, the corpus was set up to support initiatives by the government and NGOs working towards protecting the dignity and ensuring safety of women in India.

Taking note of the Baidya's special mention, Kurien wanted to know the factual situation from the government on status of the use of the Fund.

"I think it should be examined...how the Fund is not utilised? It is budgeted amount...," he said.

Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the matter has been taken note of. "It is a very important issue," she added.

Wansuk Syiem (Cong) in her Zero Hour mention raised the issue of prevailing law and order situation in Nagaland following protests over 33 per cent reservation to women in local bodies.

"Threat (to other states) has emerged, as the protest in Nagaland over 33 per cent reservation of women in local bodies election is turning violent day by day," she said.

She said violence has forced the state government to cancel local body polls to defuse the mounting tension.

She said that by and large, women in Northeastern states enjoy rights and social status at par with men and Naga women are equally aspiring to adopt new ideas and economic and social changes.