Only 5-10 % Sexual Assault Victims Paid Compensation: NALSA Tells SC

Just 5 to 10% of rape and other types of sexual assault victims were getting compensation under the Nirbhaya and other such schemes, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) told the Supreme Court.Referring to the figures of Andhra Pradesh, S S Rathi, Director of NALSA told the bench of Justice Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta that out of 901 cases lodged last year, only one victim has received compensation.As per the NALSA data out of 1,028 cases registered in 2017 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in the state, only 11 victims got compensated.Rajasthan: 3,305 FIRs registered in 2017 and only 140 victims received compensation under these schemes.Bihar: 1,199 FIRs of sexual assaults lodged in 2017 but only 82 victims were compensated.Rathi said a detailed report regarding other states will be filed soon.During the hearing, senior advocate Indira Jaising, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae, referred to the victim compensation scheme proposed by the NALSA for the victims of sexual assaults and said they wanted to have two vital additions in the scheme, the funds for which was earlier shared with the Centre.Jaising said the police must mandatorily inform the legal services authority of the state government about the lodging of FIRs in sexual assault cases so that the process of giving compensation to the victim can be expedited.It is to be noted that on March 27, the Supreme Court expressed anger as none of the states and Union Territories, except Sikkim, filed affidavits specifying the amount they received by under the Nirbhaya Fund towards victim compensation and details of how much of that amount has been disbursed to victims of sexual assault.The bench, hearing the PIL pertaining to the issue filed by Nipun SaxenaSLAMMED EARLIEROn February 15, the bench was shocked and angry to learn that Madhya Pradesh, which is among the state that receives the highest amount under Nirbhaya fund scheme was only disbursing Rs 6,000 to 6,500 to victims of sexual assault and asked “you value a rape at Rs 6,500 ?.. are you doing a charity ?”While going through the affidavit submitted by Madhya Pradesh Justice Lokur said: “ The figures are fantastic..commendable (angrily)..as per this affidavit you are paying Rs 6,000 to 6,500 to a rape victim on an average. How can you do so? ... Do you value a rape at Rs 6,500?“Going by the affidavit there are 1,951 rape victims in MP and you are giving them Rs 6,000-Rs 6,500 each. You have just spent a total of Rs one crore on the 1,951 victims. This is shocking and what do we say ...most insensitive. What is this going on?..you think you are doing some sort of charity ?” asked Justice Lokur.SC also expressed anger as none of the states and Union Territories, except MP and Sikkim, filed affidavits specifying the amount they received by under the Nirbhaya Fund towards victim compensation and details of how much of that amount has been disbursed to victims of sexual assault.

Only 5-10 % Sexual Assault Victims Paid Compensation: NALSA Tells SC

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