Context:
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has held a three-day National Training of Trainers (ToT) programme in New Delhi, focused on the legal provisions for women’s security, as the first big step under its newly launched “Nirbhay Raho” Initiative. The initiative is a national gender-responsive governance and grassroots capacity-building programme funded through the non-lapsable Nirbhaya Fund of the Union Government.
Key Highlights
- Initiative: Nirbhay Raho.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India.
Aim of the initiative:
(a) Eliminate grassroots gender-based discrimination and violence. (b) Build inclusive, women-friendly Panchayats. (c) Give local rural leaders deep legal awareness and the ability to act as first responders for women’s safety.
Three-pronged framework:
| Pillar | Target Group | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Nirbhay Netri | About 14.5 lakh Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) | Legal literacy, leadership, capacity to handle local safety issues |
| Nirbhay Chetna | About 17.5 lakh Male Elected Representatives | Sensitisation, breaking patriarchal biases, joining gender-equality and safety campaigns |
| Nirbhay Drishti | Village infrastructure | CCTV and surveillance infrastructure in strategic rural locations |
About the News
What is the Nirbhay Raho Initiative?
A national gender-responsive governance and grassroots capacity-building programme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, funded through the Nirbhaya Fund, to make Panchayats women-friendly and turn them into first-responder institutions for women’s safety.
What does the initiative cover?
A three-pronged framework: (a) Nirbhay Netri: training 14.5 lakh Elected Women Representatives. (b) Nirbhay Chetna: sensitising 17.5 lakh Male Elected Representatives. (c) Nirbhay Drishti: installing CCTV and surveillance infrastructure in rural areas.
Background Concepts
What is the Constitutional Backing for Women’s Representation in Panchayats?
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and made them the third tier of government in India. Among its key provisions, the amendment reserves at least one-third of seats for women in all three tiers of Panchayats (Gram, Block, and Zilla), as well as in the office of the Chairperson at each tier. Many states have since raised the women’s reservation to 50 per cent through state laws, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal. As a result, today around 46 per cent of all elected PRI members in India are women, which is one of the highest shares of elected women representatives in any country. This deep representation makes Panchayats a natural foundation for any village-level women’s safety and empowerment initiative, including Nirbhay Raho.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the Nirbhay Raho Initiative, consider the following statements:
- The initiative is run by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
- It is funded through the non-lapsable Nirbhaya Fund.
- It targets a combined footprint of over 32 lakh elected Panchayat representatives across India.
- The initiative aims to make Panchayats women-friendly and act as first responders for women’s safety.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Q2. Consider the following statements about the three pillars of the Nirbhay Raho Initiative:
- Nirbhay Netri focuses on training about 14.5 lakh Elected Women Representatives.
- Nirbhay Chetna targets the sensitisation of about 17.5 lakh Male Elected Representatives.
- Nirbhay Drishti funds the installation of CCTV and surveillance infrastructure in strategic rural locations.
- The training uses a cascading Training of Trainers model with simulations, moot courts, and role-plays.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q3. With reference to the Nirbhaya Fund, consider the following statements:
- It is a non-lapsable corpus fund set up in the Union Budget of 2013-14.
- It supports projects related to women’s safety, protection, and empowerment.
- The Ministry of Women and Child Development is the nodal ministry for the fund’s implementation.
- Initiatives like the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS 112) and One Stop Centres are supported through the fund.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q4. Consider the following statements about women’s representation in Panchayati Raj Institutions in India:
- The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 reserves at least one-third of seats for women in Panchayats.
- Several Indian states have raised this reservation to 50 per cent through their own state laws.
- Around 46 per cent of all elected PRI members in India are women.
- The 73rd Amendment also reserves a share of Chairperson posts at all three Panchayat tiers for women.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Answer Key
- (d), All four statements are correct.
- (e), All four statements are correct.
- (e), All four statements are correct.
- (e), All four statements are correct.
