Goa rape, acid attack victims to get Rs10 lakh compensation

Victims of rape, targeted acid attacks and human trafficking in Goa will be eligible for up to Rs.10 lakh as compensation, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Thursday.

"The maximum compensation we have earmarked is Rs.10 lakh per person. The scheme also complies with Supreme Court directions in such cases," Parrikar told IANS, adding that this was perhaps the highest compensation any state offered for victims of such attacks.

The decision on the policy of monetary compensation for victims was taken at a cabinet meeting Wednesday chaired by the chief minister. A corpus for disbursement as per the Goa Victim Compensation Scheme (2012) will have a separate budgetary provision for it.

"Under the scheme, the Goa government will constitute a fund called the victim compensation fund for which a budgetary provision will be made every year. The victims will be compensated from the fund, when recommended by the court," said a note circulated during the meeting.

"The quantum of compensation will be decided by the district or the state legal service authority," it said.

The victims will be eligible for compensation for "loss and injury" if they have not been compensated under any other scheme of the central or state government, insurance company or any other institution, or if the injury caused by the incident causes "substantial loss of income to the victim's family making it difficult to meet ends without any compensation".