**Executive Summary**
This report outlines the Government of India’s legislative and schematic framework for addressing human trafficking and enhancing women's safety through the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. It details the implementation of 'Mission Shakti' and the 'Nirbhaya Fund,' highlighting the launch of the Mission Shakti Dashboard on January 22, 2025, to improve service transparency. The document clarifies that while the central government provides funds and frameworks, the primary responsibility for law enforcement and prosecution lies with State and UT administrations.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Legal and Constitutional Framework**
* **Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA), 1956:** Enacted to penalize commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking; defining prostitution and providing penal action against facilitators and abettors.
* **Jurisdiction:** Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects; State Governments and UT Administrations are responsible for investigation and prosecution.
* **Data Maintenance:** The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) does not maintain centralized data on women in prostitution or those apprehended for begging in metropolitan cities.
**Mission Shakti Initiatives**
* **Sambal Vertical:** Focuses on safety and security through One Stop Centres (OSCs), providing integrated medical, legal, and psycho-social support.
* **Women Helpline (WHL):** Provides a 24x7x365 emergency response via the short-code 181, integrated with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112).
* **Samarthya Vertical:** Includes Shakti Sadan, which offers integrated relief and rehabilitation for women in distress, including trafficking survivors.
* **Digital Accessibility:** The Mission Shakti Dashboard and Mobile Application allow users to view lists of nodal officers and book appointments at the nearest OSC.
**Nirbhaya Fund and Infrastructure**
* **Funding Model:** A demand-driven fund providing financial assistance to States, UTs, and Ministries for women's safety projects.
* **Key Projects:** Supports the Safe City Project in eight major cities, the establishment of Women Help Desks (WHDs) in police stations, and Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs).
* **Judicial and Forensic Support:** Funding is allocated for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), exclusive POCSO courts, DNA analysis strengthening, and cyber forensic facilities in State Forensic Laboratories.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments and UT Administrations**
**Impact**
They are designated as the primary implementers of the ITPA and are responsible for the direct protection of citizens and the prosecution of crimes against women.
**Action Required**
Must manage the investigation of offences and utilize Nirbhaya Fund allocations to implement infrastructure like AHTUs, forensic labs, and special courts.
**Women in Distress and Trafficking Survivors**
**Impact**
They gain access to a comprehensive support ecosystem, including 24-hour helplines, temporary shelters, and integrated rehabilitation services.
**Action Required**
May utilize the 181 helpline for emergency response or use the Mission Shakti portal/app to book appointments with One Stop Centres.
**Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD)**
**Impact**
Acts as the central coordinating body for national schemes and maintains digital transparency tools.
**Action Required**
Must continue to host and update the Mission Shakti Dashboard with current lists of AHTUs and nodal officers to ensure effective service delivery.
Key Entities Referenced
Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956: The primary legislation enacted to address human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation through penal actions against those who facilitate or profit from such exploitation.
Mission Shakti: A comprehensive umbrella scheme aimed at strengthening interventions for women's safety, security, and empowerment through its 'Sambal' and 'Samarthya' verticals.
Nirbhaya Fund: A dedicated financial resource used to implement various demand-driven projects and initiatives focused on enhancing women's safety and security.
Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD): The nodal ministry responsible for implementing Mission Shakti, managing the Nirbhaya Fund, and overseeing women-centric safety frameworks.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Government of India has enacted Immoral Traffic
(Prevention) Act, 1956 to address trafficking and
commercial sexual exploitation and related
offences
Government has set up dedicated “Nirbhaya Fund” for
implementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing safety and
security for women
Posted On: 27 MAR 2026 12:09PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Women and Child Development does not maintain centralized data on the number of
women who have turned to prostitution and women beggars apprehended in the National Capital and other
metropolitan cities.
‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The
responsibility to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens including
investigation and prosecution crime against women rests with the respective State Governments and UT
Administrations; they are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws.
The Government of India has enacted the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) to address
trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation and related offences. The Act defines prostitution in the
context of commercial sexual exploitation and provides for penal action against those who facilitate, abet
or profit from such exploitation. Implementation of the Act is primarily the responsibility of State
Governments and UT Administrations.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) implements ‘Mission Shakti’, a scheme in
mission mode which aims to strengthen interventions for women safety, security and empowerment across
the country. Mission Shakti comprises of two verticals ‘Sambal’ for safety and security of women and
‘Samarthya’ for empowerment of women. Under ‘Sambal’, One Stop Centres (OSCs), provide integrated
support and assistance under one roof to women affected by violence and those in distress, both in private
and public spaces. It also provides an integrated range of services including medical aid, legal aid and
advice, temporary shelter, police assistance, psycho-social counselling to needy women. Further, Women
Helpline (WHL) under ‘Sambal’, aims to provide 24x7x365 emergency and non-emergency response
through telephonic short-code 181 to women, both in public and private spaces by linking them with
appropriate authorities such as Police, One Stop Centres, Hospitals, Legal Services Authorities etc.
Additionally, it provides information about women welfare schemes and programs. Women Helpline is
operational in 35 States and Union Territories and also integrated with Emergency Response Support
System (ERSS-112). Under ‘Samarthya’, Shakti Sadan provides an Integrated Relief and Rehabilitation
Home for women in distressful situations including trafficked women. It aims at creating a safe andenabling environment for the women in such difficult situations, to enable them to overcome the adverse
circumstances. In order to strengthen transparency and accessibility in service delivery with respect to
reliefs and rehabilitation to women in distress, MWCD launched Mission Shakti Dashboard, on
22.01.2025 (https://missionshakti.wcd.gov.in/). The dashboard hosts updated lists of Anti-Human
Trafficking Units (AHTUs), Nodal Officers of various schemes including OSCs, WHL, Shakti Sadan etc.
The portal also consolidates all major helplines for easy public access. The Mission Shakti Dashboard data
is also accessible via the Mission Shakti Mobile Application. A woman in distress can now book an
appointment with her nearest OSC through both the portal and the mobile application.
The Government of India has set up a dedicated fund called the “Nirbhaya Fund” for implementation of
initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security for women. All projects/ schemes under Nirbhaya
Fund are demand driven. The fund provides financial assistance to Ministries, Departments, States and
UTs for implementation of various projects such as ERSS-112, Cyber Crime Prevention against Women
and Children (CCPWC), Safe City Project in 8 major cities namely Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai,
Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai, Women Help Desks (WHDs) in police stations, Anti
Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs), Strengthening of DNA analysis, cyber forensic and related facilities
in State Forensic Laboratories (SFSLs), Setting up Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) including exclusive
POCSO courts to dispose of cases pending trial under rape and POCSO Act, etc.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri
Thakur in Lok Sabha in reply to a question.
****
SS
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