Victims await compensation but govt busy in renovating Manodhairya scheme

‘Women are treated as goddesses in India’ this statement has been disputed since centuries and for many this topic remains irrelevant. All this because of the numerous atrocities women are meted to. The situation has worsen so much that the culprits have not left even the small girls and have ruin their lives too, by exploiting the sexually.

Post the Delhi gang rape case in December 2012, some laws were amended after a series of debates right from the roads to the news studios and then to the Parliament. But the claims that the new rules will deter goons were seen falling on their face when the country’s financial capital – Mumbai – witnessed another brutal gang rape of a photo-journalist in city’s Shakti mills in August 2013.

At the backdrop of this incident, the then Maharashtra government had come up with the ‘Manodhairya Scheme’ – a move to provide financial assistance to victims of rape, acid attacks and child abuse. The scheme was implemented in October 2013 with a view to provide medical and legal assistance apart from counselling and financial aide.

According to the policy, a female child who is sexually abused is given amount ranging from Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakh as ‘compensation. Similar amount is granted to women who are raped or get severely injured in an acid attack. The women who sustain minor injuries in an acid attack are entitled to get Rs 50,000.

Interestingly, in March 2017, the now government has forwarded a proposal to the Finance Ministry, to hike the amount of compensation up to Rs 10 lakh.

Speaking about the ‘renovation’ of this scheme, Pankaja Munde, minister of Women and Child Development (WCD) said that this scheme is for comforting the victims. “It was during the assembly session when a lady representative had sought for a hike in the amount of compensation and soon I made up my mind to renovate the existing scheme. Accordingly, I prepared the proposal and have forwarded it for the approval of the Finance Ministry and the Chief Minister’s nod,” Munde said.

Even as the Maharashtra government claims that it is dedicated to work for the welfare of the women and children and claims to have done ‘a lot’ but still there are thousands of women who are awaiting their ‘rights.’

According to the data provided by an official in the WCD department, 1949 women are still waiting to get the compensation for their survival. Their applications are pending on the desks of the District Committees since months or even years in some cases.

The official data shows that till January 2017, a total of 7391 victims had approached the District Committees seeking monetary help. The data reveals that only 5993 pleas were approved for compensation, of which 4318 women have been provided with the aide. However, 1675 approved applications are still pending along with 274 which are yet to be verified (1675 + 274 = 1949).

Moreover, 1424 applications were rejected on grounds best known to the Committee members.

Reacting on the data, Munde said, “We have to evaluate the facts of each case and that is a time consuming process. Apart from this, as I said we are renovating the scheme so that it is also taking some time.”

According to the policy, a female child who is sexually abused is given amount ranging from Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakh as ‘compensation. Similar amount is granted to women who are raped or get severely injured in an acid attack