With Delhi gang-rape issue heating up, the Government intends to implement a new Centrally-sponsored scheme (CSS) to provide financial assistance and support to rape victims.
At present, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing a scheme of financial assistance to rape victims to implement the provisions of Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989. This Act addresses a number of atrocities including modesty of a woman, sexual exploitation of women, rape including gang rape, mass rape etc. Now, this is likely to form the basis for the proposed scheme.
“A scheme for providing restorative justice to victims of rape through financial assistance as well as support services will be implemented in the 12th Plan in pursuance of the Supreme Court of India Directive,” Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla told
The 12{+t}{+h} Plan recognises addressing violence against women in public and private spheres as a major challenge, he added.
Shukla said the Planning Commission had also requested the Ministry of Women and Child Development to recast the proposal for ‘Financial Assistance and Support Services to Victims of Rape: A Scheme for Restorative Justice’, keeping in mind the existing scheme being implemented by the Ministry.
“I will personally take this forward,” Shukla claimed.
The facility for counselling and legal aid will be provided for all affected women in collaboration with the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). This authority has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, to provide free legal services to the weaker sections of society and to organise Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.
Normally, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is the Patron-in-Chief of such a body.
The apex court, in its judgement in a case (Delhi Domestic Working Women vs Union of India), indicated the broad parameters in assisting the victim of rape.
This includes legal assistance and other measures at the police station to the victims, setting up of a Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, investigate and examine all matters relating to safeguards provided to women, investigation into specific problems or situations arising out of discrimination and atrocities against women and farming of scheme for compensation and rehabilitation to ensure justice to victims of rape.
Based on these parameters, the Ministry of Women and Child Development proposed a scheme on restorative justice to rape victims.
The proposed scheme provides for financial assistance to the affected women and support services, such as shelter, counselling, medical aid, legal assistance, education and vocation training depending upon the needs of the victim.
Now, the effort is to reframe the scheme keeping in changing needs.