Punjab Govt launches Project Hifazat to protect women

The Government of Punjab launched Project Hifazat to protect women from violence on the eve of International Women's Day. The Project was launched by Punjab’s Social Security, Women, and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur in Chandigarh on 7th March 2025.

International Women’s Day is observed every year on 8th March. The theme of the 2025 International Women’s Day is “ For All Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”

About Project Hifazat of the Punjab Government

• The project aims to protect women and children from violence by providing immediate assistance from government departments.
• It provides a dedicated helpline number, ‘181’, which the victim can call for help.
• The initiative aims to improve the response mechanism of the government departments to report of violence against women through better inter-departmental coordination.
• It also aims to remove the fear of women from reporting cases of violence and harassment at home, the workplace or at any place.
• The Project Hifazat of the Punjab government has been integrated with Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya of the central government.

About Mission Shakti 

The Mission Shakti is an umbrella Scheme for the Safety, Security, and Empowerment of Women of the government of India.

It is being implemented by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Currently, it is being implemented during the 15^th Finance Commission period 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Aim of the Scheme

• To provide immediate and comprehensive care, support, and assistance to women affected by violence and in distress;
• To develop quality mechanisms for rescue, protection, and rehabilitation of women in need of assistance and victims of crime and violence.

Components of Mission Shakti 

The scheme has Sambal and Samarthya sub scheme

Sambal 

• Focus on women's safety and security 
• It includes One Stop centers, Women helpline, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Nari Adalats scheme of the government.

Samarthaya

• Focus on women empowerment.
• It includes Shakti Sadans (homes for women victims of destitution and trafficking), Sakhi Niwas (working women hostels), Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Palna (creches) and NHEW (national, state and district level hubs for empowerment of women) scheme of the government.

Mission Vatsalaya 

The  Mission Vatsalya is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Union Ministry of  Women and Child Development that aims to ensure the welfare, protection, and constructive growth of children.

The central government provides funds to the state to provide preventive, statutory care and rehabilitation services to children who need care and protection as per the provisions of the

Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016.