Maha policy: Rape, acid victims to get up to Rs 3 lakh

Even while the central government is mulling increasing the compensation for victims of acid attack from Rs2 lakh to Rs3 lakh, the state government has already come up with a policy for the same.

The state finance department has approved the proposal of paying compensation of a maximum of Rs3 lakh to victims of not just acid attacks, but also of rape.

Though the state’s women and child development department had proposed a policy of rehabilitation and compensation for acid attack victims, the proposal was yet to take the shape of a policy as there were financial complications involved. The department has managed to cross those hurdles and the state finance department has put a stamp of approval on it.

The policy is not just restricted to paying compensation to the victim but also includes counselling, medical and legal help, and education as well as vocational education for earning a living.

The compensation for victims ranges from Rs50,000 to Rs2 lakh in normal cases and Rs3 lakh in severe and dangerous attacks.

According to the statistics provided by the state CID, as many as 17,777 cases of sexual harassment were registered between January and October 2012.

The state is expecting an expenditure of around Rs35 crore per year, given the number of cases of sexual assault and acid attacks registered in Maharashtra. Though the state is expected to come up with the policy soon after the proposal is formally approved in the cabinet, the decision will not have a retrospective effect, ie it will be applicable to the cases that happen after it comes into effect.

In the meantime, the central government is likely to soon notify tougher rules and regulations for the sale, storage and transport of acid as part of its effort to plug all loopholes.

Money matters
The compensation for victims ranges from Rs50,000 to Rs2 lakh in normal cases and Rs3 lakh in severe and dangerous attacks.

The state is expecting an expenditure of around Rs35 crore per year, given the number of cases registered in Maharashtra.