Scheme for Effective Implementation of PWDV Act

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA) requires the appointment of Protection Officers, registration of Service providers and notification of shelter homes and medical facilities. As per the information provided by the States/UTs, all the State Governments have appointed protection officers, 25 States/UTs have registered service providers, 21 States/UTs have notified medical facilities and 24 States/UTs have notified shelter homes. However, only six State Governments have appointed independent Protection Officers. In the National Consultation organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to review implementation of the PWDVA, 2005, the representatives of the State Governments had requested for financial assistance for more effective implementation of the Act.

A draft scheme for assistance to States for effective implementation of the PWDVA, 2005 was submitted to the Ministry by the National Commission for Women (NCW). The draft scheme proposed by the NCW includes, inter alia, appointment of protection officers at the block, regional and State levels, registration of service providers, formation of Coordination Committees at the district and State level and provisions for awareness generation. Taking this into account, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has formulated a scheme for `Assistance to States for effective implementation of PWDV Act, 2005’, as a component of the Umbrella Scheme for Protection and Empowerment of Women for implementation during the remaining years of the 12th Plan. The Scheme, inter alia, includes appointment of independent Protection Officers with basic infrastructure and Service Providers at the district level, protection officer at the sub-division/ tehsil levels in 100 most vulnerable districts and awareness generation programmes.