Nirbhaya Fund: Gangrape, women security echoed in Budget

New Delhi, Feb 28:

brought good news for

. At a time when women are worried about their safety, due to rise in crime rate against them, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram during his budget presentation on Thursday announced Nirbhaya Fund.

The special fund is to be utilised to ensure safety of women.

A total of Rs 1,000 crore has been allocated towards the fund. The fund is named in honour of the 23-year-old paramedical student who died in the brutal gang-rape in the national capital on Dec 16, 2012.

The memories of the horrific episode is still fresh in the minds of people. The brutal gang-rape and murder witnessed large-scale protests across the country.

The country is asking for strict laws to end sexual assault against women.The Bill on sexual violence against women will come up in the Parliament soon.

Chidambaram's announcement has been welcomed by all.

"It is a good step. Hope the fund will ensure that women are provided more safety within and outside their homes. But, at the same time, government should ensure that there is a change in mindset of people to cut down on crime against women," said Monobina Sharma, a copywriter with an advertising agency in Bangalore.

However, details of how the fund would be utilised is not yet known.

OneIndia