Dear All,

It is just wonderful to learn that the government has decided to set up a special fund called “Nirbhaya Fund” towards women's safety with a corpus of Rs 1,000 crore (Rs10 billion). The responsibility of designing the structure, scope and application of this fund has been given to ministry of women and child development.

The fund has been announced in memory of the young woman, who passed away at a Singapore hospital on Dec 29 last year, two weeks after she had been brutally gang-raped in a moving bus in the Indian capital.

As the media is not allowed to name a rape victim, the young woman who fought those who assaulted her Dec 16 was referred to as "Nirbhaya" (fearless one) and "Damini" (lightning) by sections of the press.

The words of Finance Minister P. Chidambaram during presentation of budget for 2013-14, showed his concerned for women's safety. Recent Delhi rape incidence is indeed a black spot on humanity. There is no doubt that it is our collective responsibility to ensure dignity and safety of women.

I am very hopeful that ministry of women and child development will plan the structure, scope and application of this fund in such a way that intention behind setting up of this fund can be implemented in the most efficient way.

Members please share your opinion in this regard.

Regards

Ankur Garg