"We had sent the request for more grants way back in April and are happy that the sanction has been given. The process of disbursal shall start soon," said a senior officer.
The rape and acid attack victims waiting to be compensated under the state government's much-talked-about Manodhariya scheme can expect some relief as the finance department has finally approved an additional budget of Rs 12 crore for disbursal under the scheme, said a government resolution released on October 27.
Within two years of its launch, the state government's Manodhariya scheme – meant for rehabilitating victims of rape, children subjected to sexual abuse and acid attack survivors – began facing severe financial crunch. As per the official data, 1,178 victims were waiting for the rehabilitation money as of April, 2015.
"We had sent the request for more grants way back in April and are happy that the sanction has been given. The process of disbursal shall start soon," said a senior officer.
Early this year, the state government was pulled up by the Bombay high court over its half-hearted implementation of the Manodhairya scheme. The state government had then claimed to have spent around Rs 27 crore between January 2014 and February 2015 to compensate and rehabilitate the survivors.
In Mumbai, out of a total of 499 cases, the department sanctioned compensation for 304 victims under the scheme during the same period. However, 145 victims are still waiting for compensation.
In February, while pulling up the government, the court had directed it to spell out its efforts towards publicizing the Manodhairya scheme among survivors as well as the police and investigating authorities.
The court's order had come on the petition filed by Aarti Thakur, an IT professional and an acid attack survivor. Thakur had sought compensation of Rs4 lakh towards her medical expenses and corrective plastic surgery.
The scheme was launched in 2013 by the Congress-NCP government. The scheme gives financial assistance ranging between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh with separate funds of up to Rs 50,000 for injuries and incidental costs such as travel and medical expenditure.
The pile-up
Number of rape and acid attack cases registered -- 3,523
Number of cases that saw approval for compensation – 2,532
Number of victims who have received compensation -- 1,354
Number of victims who have yet to get compensation –1,178
(Data sourced from women and child department for the period of October 2013- April 2015)
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