The 17-year-old girl, who survived an acid attack by a friend at Gorai beach, will receive a compensation of Rs3 lakh from the state government, nearly seven weeks after the incident.
According to an official in the Women and Child Welfare Department, an account was opened in the girl’s name in a public sector bank on Friday and the money will be deposited in the account on Monday.
The girl is now at home, but she continues to be under treatment as she is unable to eat solid food due to serious burns she suffered when the friend tried to force acid down her throat after a quarrel. She is on a liquid diet and has lost much weight. The incident happened on October 19.
The girl was treated at a private hospital and as expenses mounted to Rs3.5 lakh, the family took her home against medical advice as they could not afford the cost. The family was compelled to borrow money and the girl’s mother even pawned her mangalsutra.
The family’s initial application for assistance was turned down on the grounds that it did not have funds. This, despite the government’s declaring a scheme three months ago to provide financial and medical aid of between Rs2 lakh and Rs3 lakh to survivors of such sexual assaults. Under the scheme – called Manodhairya Yojana – legal aid, rehabilitation and counselling will be provided too. dna first reported the case on October 26 and persisted with the authorities to grant assistance due to the family. “The department has made a special provision to provide assistance for the girl. A bank account was opened on Friday and the money will be deposited on Monday. Of the Rs3 lakh sanctioned, Rs2.25 lakh will be put in the account and Rs75,000 will be placed in a fixed deposit for future use,” said GV Devre, a senior official in the Women and Child Welfare department.
The family has said money had been a major constraint in the girl’s treatment. On Friday, a family member expressed satisfaction that the government had finally made the provision. Asked whether the government would provide further aid as the treatment progresses, Devre said no decision was taken on that yet.
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