National

Rehabilitation scheme for rape victims to be announced

NEW DELHI: The government will bring out the new relief and rehabilitation scheme for victims of rape in the next few months, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury has said.

The scheme, mooted by the National Commission for Women in 2005, envisages a compensation of Rs.1 lakh in the case of death of a non-earning family member after the post mortem report establishes a prima facie case. The relief amount will double in the case of death of an earning member.

In other cases, the government — through a board and monitoring committees to be set up at the district level — will give the victim a compensation for rehabilitation and other expenses. This is subject to a maximum of Rs. 50,000 depending on the type and severity of bodily injuries and the expenses incurred or is likely to be incurred on medical treatment and psychological counselling.

Talking to journalists at the end of a round table to discuss the Scheme for Relief and Rehabilitation for Victims of Rape, organised by the National Commission for Women, Ms. Chowdhury said victims must be helped to take care of the expenditure arising from pregnancy due to rape and abortion if resorted to.

The victim must also be compensated for cessation or interruption of gainful activity or employment on the basis of an assessment made by the Board or the district monitoring committee, and non-pecuniary loss or damage such as pain, mental or emotional trauma, humiliation and inconvenience.

The board could consider higher financial relief and special relief measures in cases where the victim was mentally challenged or a minor. Ms. Chowdhury said Rs.20,000 could be given after an FIR was filed. The authority would not be guided by the trial’s outcome while allowing the application for relief and rehabilitation.

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