Relief and Rehabilitation of female victims of violence
24 States & 7 UTs have formulated the Victim Compensation Scheme under provisions of Section 357 A of Code of Criminal Procedure.
The compensation part of the rehabilitation of victims of violence including rape is governed by provision of Section 357A of the Code of Criminal Procedure which states that every State Government in co-ordination with the Central Government shall prepare a scheme for providing funds for the purpose of compensation to the victim of crime including rape. As per section 326 A of the IPC, Criminal Law Amendment Act 2013 apart from making punishment stringent, for acid attack, it provides for just and reasonable fine to meet the medical expenses of the victim and this shall be paid to victim. The amendment also provides that all the hospitals, public or private, have been mandated to provide free medical treatment to all victims of acid attack and rape. The Ministry is implementing “Ujjawala”- a Comprehensive Scheme for Prevention of Trafficking and Rescue, Rehabilitation, Re-Integration and Repatriation of Victims of Trafficking for Commercial Sexual Exploitation.
Under the Legal Service Authority Act 1987, all women are entitled to free legal aid.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), has introduced a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for setting up One Stop Centre (one Centre in every State/UT). The scheme aims at facilitating/providing medical aid, police assistance, legal counseling/court case management, psycho-social counselling and temporary shelter to women affected by violence for implementation during the remaining period of 12th Five Year Plan i.e. 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is also administering Swadhar and Short Stay Home Schemes for relief and rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances, including the victims of rape.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today.
NB/NK/PB