Govt tells High Court it may hike compensation for rape victims

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government today told the Bombay High Court that it has mooted a proposal to hike the compensation to the victims of rape, sexual assault and acid attacks from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. Under the Manodhairya Yojana launched in October 2013, the state government had decided to give compensation of up to Rs 3 lakh to the victims of rape and other crimes against women.

Apart from the monetary compensation, the government provides counselling to the victim and vocational or educational training, if required. The high court had earlier suggested the government to consider increasing the amount to Rs 10 lakh in some cases, looking at the gravity of the offence and the condition of the victims. Following this, government lawyer Abhay Patki today told the court that the proposal to increase the compensation has been initiated and a final decision on the same would be taken within six weeks.

The court had earlier made the suggestion while hearing a petition filed by a 14-year-old girl, who claims to be a victim of rape, seeking compensation of Rs 3 lakh under the Manodhairya Yojana. The girl was given a sum of Rs 2 lakh by the government after the petition was filed in October last year. The bench had then slammed the government for its insensitive approach and had said that the Manodhairya scheme was "insulting, inhuman and shameful."