SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir utilised Rs 8.45 crore from the Nirbhaya Fund during the financial year 2025-26, according to State/UT-wise figures tabled by the Union Government in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The expenditure places JK among the States and Union Territories that drew funds from the women’s safety corpus during the year, with Karnataka recording the highest amount at Rs 71.92 crore, followed by Tamil Nadu at Rs 61.78 crore and Kerala at Rs 35.96 crore.
Ladakh utilised Rs 0.38 crore during the same period, while several Union Territories, including Lakshadweep, recorded no utilisation.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development said 137 One Stop Centres (OSCs) were made functional across the country during 2025-26. The centres, operating under the Sambal vertical of Mission Shakti, provide integrated assistance to women facing violence or distress, including medical and legal aid, temporary shelter, police assistance and psycho-social counselling.
The Government said the Women Helpline 181 was operational in 35 States and UTs during 2025-26. West Bengal began implementing the scheme from 2026-27.
The Ministry said Nirbhaya Fund projects are demand-driven and follow a multi-stage approval and funding process. Since the fund’s inception, 49 projects and schemes sponsored or received from various Central ministries, States and UTs have been appraised by the Inter-Ministerial Empowered Committee under the Nirbhaya Fund framework.
It said projects are implemented according to staggered schedules after appraisal and recommendation by the committee and approval by the concerned Competent Financial Authority. Funds are subsequently provided through the budgets of the sponsoring ministries and departments.
For projects involving recurring expenditure, further releases are made after receipt of utilisation certificates and statements of expenditure from implementing agencies, in accordance with the General Financial Rules.
The Empowered Committee periodically reviews the implementation and expenditure of approved projects in coordination with the concerned ministries, departments, States and UTs, while implementing agencies also monitor progress at their respective levels.
