Nearly half of Nirbhaya funds unutilised, shows data

The gap between allocation and actual spending by the ministry of women and child development on empowerment and protection of women has been rising for the last six years

Last week, the government informed the Parliament that of the Rs 6,212.85 crore allocated under the Nirbhaya fund, only two-thirds, or Rs 4,212.91 crore, could be disbursed to the concerned ministries and departments. Utilisation is expected to be further lower. Until July last year, a sum of Rs 2,871.42 crore, or 46 per cent of the allocated amount, had been utilised by various ministries, central departments and states.

A state-wise comparison shows a wide disparity in the utilisation of funds. A Business Standard analysis found that only four states/UTs had utilised over 90 per cent of funds allocated under