Over 1,000 fast track courts to be set up for rape cases

government told Parliament on Friday that it has formulated a scheme to set up 1,023 fast track special courts (FTSCs) for expeditious trial and disposal of rape cases, including that of mirs.

In a written reply, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said that scheme would cost Rs 767.25 crore to state and Central governments.

"Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India has formulated a Scheme, on lines of or Centrally Sponsored Schemes, for setting up of a total of 1,023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) for expeditious trial and disposal of rape cases and cases under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act," a PIB release said.

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minister told Parliament that Central government would contribute Rs 474 crore to set up special courts under scheme.

"It has been proposed to set up 218 FTSCs in State of Uttar Pradesh. decision of Government of Uttar Pradesh in this regard is awaited," it said.

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Nirbhaya fund

Earlier, Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday sanctioned Rs 100 crores from 'Nirbhaya' Fund for setting up and strengning of women help desks at police stations across country.

fund will be used in making police stations more women-friendly and approachable as y would be first and single point of contact for any woman walking into a police station. Essentially, female police officers would be deployed at se help desks.

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officials would be trained to be sensitive towards twomen who would come with ir grievances. se help desks would have enlisted panel of experts like lawyers, psychologists and NGOs to facilitate legal aid, counseling, shelter, rehabilitation, and training, etc.

move has come after numerous cases of rape and murder involving women have surfaced from across country. Nirbhaya Fund was created in 2013 after 2012 Delhi gangrape and murder case.

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(with ANI inputs)