Victim yet to get any rehab, protection
NEWDELHI: Just seven kilometres from Lutyens’ Delhi, the 20-yearold blind woman who was allegedly raped near her shanty in Karol Bagh two weeks ago awaits rehabilitation and protection. The survivor said after her uncle’s alleged suicide, she and her mother do not have the resources to pursue a legal battle.
Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal had visited the victim six days after the alleged rape and offered her monetary aid. The mother-daughter duo told her they did not accept the ₹25,000 cash as “such a huge amount of money” could have put their lives in danger.
“It is really sad to learn that her uncle committed suicide. I had met her and an immediate compensation of ₹25,000 was offered to the victim and her family. Since they did not have any account, we are in the process of getting an account opened. They do not have an Aadhaar card or basic documents so the process is taking time,” Maliwal said.
Such monetary benefits are now assured to victims of sexual assault, under the ‘Compensation Scheme for women Victims/ Survivors of Sexual Assault/ other Crimes-2018,’ which was given the nod by the Supreme Court earlier this week. The scheme recommends ₹5-10 lakh compensation for victims of gang rape and in cases of loss of life. It also recommends up to ₹4-7 lakh for victims of rape.
Nipun Saxena, the lawyer who had filed a PIL in 2012 asking for measures to curb sexual assault and compensate victims, said the Sc-approved scheme would bring about “a uniformity regarding the quantum of compensation and the manner in which it will be disbursed.”
The scheme does not, however, address the victims’ social rehabilitation and safety.
Maliwal said she had written to a blind school to get the survivor inducted there. “I have also moved an application in court to get the victim and her family adequate compensation.”
Ranjana Kumari, one of the gender experts who presented arguments before the Justice Verma Commission that was set up post the 2012 gang rape, expressed concern for the safety and security of the victim. “Since the victim is blind, the first thing she requires is protection. The other suspects in the case, who she alleges were let off, can cause her harm. The first thing police should have done is to move her to a care centre.”
Former police special commissioner Vimla Mehra said the police might not be able to arrange accommodation for the victim, but they should provide her protection.
“We have not received any such complaint by the victim or her mother that they feel unsafe or are at any risk. If any such information is received, adequate measures will be taken,” said DCP central, MS Randhawa.
They offered us a sum of ₹25,000. Despite our need, we could only accept ₹5,000. I fear if we had kept the entire sum, someone would have murdered or robbed us. VICTIM’S MOTHER