New Delhi, March 27: The Government of India has said that the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) remains the key legislation to address trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation and related offences in the country, while a dedicated Nirbhaya Fund has been created to support initiatives aimed at improving the safety and security of women.
The information was provided by Savitri Thakur in the Lok Sabha in response to a question.
According to the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), the government does not maintain centralized data on the number of women who have turned to prostitution or women beggars apprehended in the National Capital and other metropolitan cities.
The ministry noted that “police” and “public order” fall under the jurisdiction of states under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. As such, the responsibility for maintaining law and order, protecting citizens and investigating crimes against women rests primarily with state governments and Union Territory administrations.
Officials said the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 defines prostitution in the context of commercial sexual exploitation and provides for penal action against those who facilitate, abet or profit from such activities. The implementation of the Act is mainly handled by state governments and UT administrations.
The Centre, however, has been implementing several programmes to strengthen women’s safety and empowerment across the country. Among them is Mission Shakti, a flagship scheme aimed at enhancing support systems for women.
The scheme operates through two components — Sambal, which focuses on safety and security, and Samarthya, which works toward empowerment. Under Sambal, One Stop Centres (OSCs) provide integrated assistance to women affected by violence, offering services such as medical aid, legal support, temporary shelter, police assistance and psychosocial counselling.
In addition, the Women Helpline (181) functions round the clock to provide emergency and non-emergency assistance, linking women to relevant authorities including police, hospitals, legal services and One Stop Centres. The helpline is currently operational across 35 states and Union Territories and is integrated with the national emergency response system ERSS-112.
Under the Samarthya component, Shakti Sadan facilities provide integrated relief and rehabilitation for women in distress, including victims of trafficking, by offering a safe environment and support for recovery.
The ministry also highlighted the launch of the Mission Shakti Dashboard on January 22, 2025, which aims to improve transparency and accessibility in service delivery related to relief and rehabilitation programmes for women. The platform hosts updated lists of Anti-Human Trafficking Units, nodal officers and various support services, while also consolidating major helplines for public access. Women in distress can also book appointments with their nearest One Stop Centre through the portal and the associated mobile application.
Meanwhile, the government has established the Nirbhaya Fund, a dedicated financial mechanism to support projects designed to enhance women’s safety. The fund provides assistance to ministries, departments, states and Union Territories for implementing initiatives such as the national emergency response system (ERSS-112), cyber crime prevention programmes targeting crimes against women and children, and the Safe City Project in eight major cities including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai.
Other initiatives supported through the fund include setting up Women Help Desks in police stations, strengthening Anti-Human Trafficking Units, enhancing forensic facilities in state laboratories and establishing Fast Track Special Courts, including exclusive courts under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, to expedite the trial of rape and related cases.
The government said these measures form part of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional mechanisms aimed at preventing exploitation and improving safety for women across the country.
