Compensation scheme for sex crime victims approved

PANAJI: The state cabinet has given its approval to the Goa compensation scheme for women victims and survivors of sexual assaults and other crimes to provide solatium that ranges  from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh based on gravity of crime.

The scheme, which got the nod  at  a cabinet meeting held at Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s private residence on Thursday, will be implemented by the department of women and child development.

The scheme has been framed as per the direction of the Supreme Court for providing funds to recompense the woman victims or her dependants for the loss of life, or injury, as the case  may be, as a result of the offence committed.

As per the scheme, in the case of loss of life and gang rape, the victim will get compensation minimum of Rs 5 lakh and maximum of 10 lakh.

The victim of  rape and unnatural sex assault will get between Rs 4 lakh to Rs 7 lakh.

For the loss of any limb or part of body resulting in 40 per cent and above but below 80 per cent permanently disability, the victim will get between Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh; for 20 per cent  and above and below 40 per cent permanent disability, the victim will get  between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, and  for below 20 per cent permanent disability, the victim will get between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.

In the case of grievous physical injury or any mental injury requiring rehabilitation, the victim will get between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh; on the loss of foetus such as miscarriage as a result of assault or loss of fertility, the victim  will get between Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh; in the case of pregnancy on account of rape, the victim  will get between Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh.

In the case of disfigurement of face due to burning,  the victim will get between Rs 7 lakh to Rs 8 lakh; the victim of burn injury (50 per cent and above)  will between get Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh; the victim of burn injury (less than 50 per cent) will get between Rs 3 lakh to Rs 7 lakh; while the victim of burn injury (less than 20 per cent) will be paid   between Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh.

Some  Rs 7 lakh to Rs 8 lakh will be given to the victim of  disfigurement of face caused by acid attack; the victim of acid attack with injury of  50 per cent and above will get between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh; the victim of acid attack with injury of  less than 50 per cent will get between Rs 3 lakh to Rs 7 lakh; and between Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh will be given to the victim of acid attack with injury of less than 20 per cent.

The dependants who can claim for compensation under the scheme include husband, father, mother, grandparents, unmarried daughter and children of the victim as determined by the state legal service authority or district legal service authority on the report of the sub-divisional magistrate of the concerned area or station house officer/investigating officer.