Purpose of the Report
The Oxfam Report was undertaken to track the translation of the government’s commitments on VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) into budgetary commitments at the Union level for the financial years 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Some Unnerving Stats
More than 30% of women and girls report physical and sexual violence
33% of ever-married women report domestic violence
25% of domestic violence survivors report being injured
Only 14% of the victims seek support or assistance
More than 50% of women justify wife-beating in certain circumstances
Estimates vs Allocations
The study estimates that INR 10-11,000 crore would be required annually to reach out just 60% of the affected women. Currently, the budgetary estimations (BE) are not even one-fourth of what will be required to reach even 60% of the survivors.
In the Union Budget 2020-21, INR 2009 crores were allocated for women-specific VAWG* , formed 0.07% of the total union budget allocation, but was 3.4 times of what was allocated in 2018-19.
*which include inter-alia schemes like 181-women helpline, One Stop Centre, Swadhar Greh (Shelter Homes) and Fast Track Special Courts
The Nirbhaya Fund
The Nirbhaya Fund, set up in 2014, was allocated over INR 4000 crores by 2019-20.
A major concern with this fund was the actual proposal and release of the money. By 2019, 40% of the amount was released, and only 60% of the amount released was utilised- which means only 24% of the allocated fund was utilised
Another issue is the allocation of these funds- 73% of these allocations go to Home Affairs (police). More than 50% of the funds go to only 5 states- Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and UP
Within Home Affairs, more transparency is required about how the funds were actually used, and what proportion of the funds went for women specific objectives
Most of the funding goes towards better street lighting and CCTV cameras
The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 has almost no allocation
Key Report Recommendations
Incremental increase for women-specific VAWG allocations to INR 11,000 crores
Increasing the share of central government (vs. state government) from 60% to 90-100%
Expansion of Nirbhaya Fund for 5-10 years
Universalisation of services at district-level
Revision of unit-costs of schemes
Gender sensitised training of workforce in the police, judiciary, legal aid, health and social sectors
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