The Women Safety Division came into being on 28 May 2018. The Division functions as a key institutional mechanism to strengthen the safety and security framework for women through a coordinated, technology-driven, and justice-oriented approach. The Division has the responsibility of policy formulation, strategic planning, inter-agency coordination, and implementation of schemes that support States and Union Territories in preventing and responding to crimes against women and other vulnerable groups. Its mandate emphasizes timely justice delivery, improved law-enforcement capabilities, and modernization of supporting systems, particularly in the domains of crime data management and forensic science.
The Division oversees critical functions related to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS), including national databases and digital platforms that aid investigation, tracking, and identification of offenders. It also manages administrative and project-related matters of the Directorate of Forensic Science Services and Central Forensic Science Laboratories, coordinates forensic capacity-building at the State level, and supports the National Forensic Sciences University. The Division also implements projects such as Emergency Response Support Systems and Safe City initiatives to enhance preventive and responsive infrastructure for womenās safety.
In addition, the Women Safety Division also deals with issues relating to prison reforms and international cooperation on Transfer of Sentenced Persons. It also deals with issues relating to human trafficking and engages in bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The Division also handles matters relating to crimes against women, children, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the elderly, and other vulnerable sections.
VISITSections under Women Safety Division
Subjects addressed by the Women Safety Division
Women Safety ā I / Coordination Section
- Administrative, financial and project related matters of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
- Coordination related matters related to Women Safety Division.
Women Safety ā II Section
- Crime against Women and Children
- Crime against SCs & STs, including atrocities committed under Prevention of Atrocities (POA) Act, 1989 and The Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, 1955
- Crime against elderly persons and other vulnerable groups excluding crime against minorities.
- The Poisons Act, 1919
Women Safety ā III Section
- Administrative, financial and project related matters of Directorate of Forensic Science Services (DFSS) and its Central Forensic Sciences Laboratories (CFSLs).
- Matters relating to Forensic Sciences, Central Advisory Committee on Forensic Sciences etc.
- National Forensic Sciences University
- Coordination and implementation of projects for strengthening the State Forensic Sciences Laboratories
Women Safety - IV
- Design, implement and monitoring of Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) project including Implementation/ Adoption of SOPs, Guidelines, Governance Framework, Funding Norms etc. to facilitate smart policing through crime analytics, and other tools, enabling enable āOne ā data once-entryā.
- Coordination and implementation of projects being undertaken in MHA for enhancement of safety of women in the country under the Nirbhaya Fund, like the Emergency Response Support System, Safe City Projects, etc.
- Encouraging new technological adoption and develop business intelligence tools and dashboards like National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO), National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-Offenders (NIDAAN), National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO), National Crime Records Check (NCRC) etc.
- Utilize emerging technologies such as big data, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain technology, and other technology tools for data computation and analytics to increase the efficiency of investigation and crime management.
Prison Reforms (PR Section)
- Prison reforms- providing guidelines to States/ UTs
- Providing financial assistance & guidelines to States/ UTs for implementation of various schemes/projects aimed at welfare of prisoners and upgradation of security infrastructure in prisons namely, Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme, Modernisation of Prisons Project and E-prisons Project
- Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003 and signing of bilateral agreements & multilateral treaties on Transfer of Sentenced Persons
- Administrative and logistical arrangements relating to Transfer of Sentenced Persons from India to foreign countries and vice-versa
- Administrative matters of Institute of Correctional Administration, Chandigarh
- Adoption of Model Prison Manual, 2016 and Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act by States/ UTs
Anti-Trafficking Cell (ATC)
- Law enforcement response on Trafficking in human beings, excluding legislative, welfare and promotional aspects, which are subject matters of Department of Women & Child Development
- Providing guidelines to States/UTs on strengthening law enforcement response in tackling human trafficking. Participation in national/international meetings/conferences on human trafficking
- Facilitation in setting up AHTUs in States and holding review meetings of AHTUs
- Signing of bilateral Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on prevention of human trafficking with interested countries and accession to multilateral treaties, including matters relating to UN protocols ā āProtocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Childrenā and āProtocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Airā
ICJS/NCRB Administration
- ļ·Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) including maintenance of verticals like, CCTNS National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO), National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-Offenders (NIDAAN), National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO), National Crime Records Check (NCRC), CrPls, IMoT.
- Administrative and financial matters of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
Forensics
- Matters relating to Forensic Sciences in the country.
- Administrative, financial and project related matters of Directorate of Forensic Science Services (DFSS) and its Central Forensic Sciences Laboratories (CFSLs).
- Matters related to the National Forensic Sciences University
- Coordination and implementation of projects for strengthening of the Forensic Eco-system in the country
Nirbhaya/ERSS
- Coordination and implementation of projects under Nirbhaya Fund
- Implementation of Emergency Response Support System, Safe City Projects, etc
Prison Reforms
- Prison reforms- providing guidelines to States/ UTs
- Providing financial assistance & guidelines to States/ UTs for implementation of various schemes/projects aimed at welfare of prisoners and upgradation of security infrastructure in prisons namely, Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme, Modernisation of Prisons Project and E-prisons Project
- Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003 and signing of bilateral agreements & multilateral treaties on Transfer of Sentenced Persons
- Administrative and logistical arrangements relating to Transfer of Sentenced Persons from India to foreign countries and vice-versa
- Administrative matters of Institute of Correctional Administration, Chandigarh
- Adoption of Model Prison Manual, 2016 and Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act by States/ UTs
Anti Trafficking
- Law enforcement response on Trafficking in human beings, excluding legislative, welfare and promotional aspects, which are subject matters of Ministry of Women & Child Development
- Providing guidelines to States/UTs on strengthening law enforcement response in tackling human trafficking. Participation in national/international meetings/conferences on human trafficking
- Facilitation in setting up AHTUs in States and holding review meetings of AHTUs
- Signing of bilateral Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on prevention of human trafficking with interested countries and accession to multilateral treaties, including matters relating to UN protocols ā āProtocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Childrenā and āProtocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Airā
Vulnerable Groups ā Welfare (VG-W)
- Matters relating to crime against the members of SCs & STs including atrocities committed under POA Act, 1989 and PCR Act, 1955.
- Matters relating to crime against women and children.
- Matters relating to crime against elderly persons and other vulnerable sections of the society excluding crime against minorities.
- Additional Compensation of Rs. One lakh to Acid Attack Victims under Prime Minister National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
- Poisons Act, 1919
- Scheme of Setting up/Strengthening of Women Help Desk in police stations in States Governments/UT Administrations
- Scheme of Central Victim Compensation Fund to support existing Victim Compensation Schemes of States Governments/UT Administrations
Coordination
- Coordination matters related to the Division.
- Budgetary matters of the Division