Soon after the government cleared the ‘Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill 2010’, another scheme that proposes to provide financial aid to the rape victims is waiting to get the nod.
The scheme has been proposed by the ministry of women and child development. It promises to provide an interim financial assistance of Rs 20,000 and restorative support services of up to Rs 50,000 to the rape victims. The final assistance can be up to a maximum of Rs 1.30 lakh. While this relief can be accessed by a woman, minor girl or legal heirs of an affected woman, the aid can be as high as Rs 3 lakh in case of special circumstances. In certain special cases involving minor girls, mentally challenged or handicapped women, suffering from HIV/AIDS or STDs the amount can be higher.
Rape is one of the most violent forms of crime against women injuring them physically as well as mentally. The scheme promises to provide restorative justice by providing an immediate relief in the form of compensation. But can any amount restore the dignity she loses? Will the promises made by the ministry make up for the tragedy?
No doubt the plan will help women who are abandoned by her family members after the tragedy. But improving the judicial system, which provides a swift and quick judgement, will be more effective curbing the heinous crime.
“The system needs to be holistic and we should understand that the compensation can never restore the dignity. Of course this is a positive sign that the ministry thought of working about the victims. But then in that course we should not forget the plight of the victim and leave the cases pending for years and years which is even more painful”, Devika Singh, senior lawyer associated with a private firm, told d-sector.
There cannot be a price to what happens to the victims. However, "rehabilitation is necessary as in some cases the females are abandoned by their own family members", believes Madhu Kishwar, founder editor of Manushi. Still, the ministries and the judicial system should understand that compensation alone is not enough to work out issues concerning the rape victims. The law needs to be firm and its implication effective and fast because there cannot be a substitute to justice.
Justice is the only aid It sure is a step forward and will help victims of economically weaker section in particular. But more than the financial aid, what the victim needs is psychological assistance, and this can happen only when government ensures they get justice, make the laws stronger, and punishment more stringent. Posted By: Geetika
Dated: Tuesday, December 07, 2010
only financial help not enough Financial aid is all right, in fact a welcome step but it should not be used to delay justice. Just by providing money the government cannot be allowed to get off the hook. Posted By: radhika Tongar
Dated: Tuesday, December 07, 2010
only punishment I would appreciate if they started punishing the culprits. I am sure there are many criminals who would be only too glad to compensate the ones they want to rape. Posted By: praveen
Dated: Thursday, November 25, 2010
Quick judgement should be the priority Financial aid goes without saying. The authorities should not boast about the plan mooted, instead they should try coming up with more of fast track courts so that judgement is rendered fast and fair. Posted By: Ritesh Kumar
Dated: Tuesday, November 23, 2010
very bad and demeaning Thats rude and ridiculing the victim. Posted By: shobhna malik
Dated: Friday, November 19, 2010
cannot substitute justice my response...excuse me? how will money get back the lost reputation? It'l rather increase the number of false charges. Posted By: Ishita Singh
Dated: Friday, November 19, 2010
Good initiative, but should be implemented sincerely The aid is fine, provided it is given in time. We live in a country where rules are only on paper but never implemented. The victims must be aware of the usage of money specially hiring of lawyers. It is a good initiative though. Posted By: Seemanti Ghatak
Dated: Friday, November 19, 2010
Amend the loopholes in the system Providing financial aid may just be an additional assistance but the government needs to amend the loopholes in the judicial system which is the sole reason for the accused not getting the punishment with in a time frame. Posted By: Viraj Desai
Dated: Friday, November 19, 2010
counseling very important why not counseling and confidence building with organisations that work with such issues like NGOs and self help groups? Posted By: Swastika Mehta
Dated: Friday, November 19, 2010
Use money to establish fast-track courts Instead of aid to victims how about using that money to establish fast-track courts to execute those found guilty with a death sentence so that it sends a clear message to the society. After all the things, you can't compensate lost dignity and crushed emotions with currency notes. Posted By: Ashirbad Raha
Dated: Friday, November 19, 2010
rapists should be hanged in public what will the financial aid do when somebody's life has been ruined? Rapists should be hanged in public so that nobody dares to do that again. Posted By: Vivek Pandey
Dated: Friday, November 19, 2010
genuine victims should be helped Good move provided it is put to action and the genuine victims are helped. Posted By: Ranjith Mohan
Dated: Friday, November 19, 2010
it is a positive move It is a very positive move. In most of the cases the victims can not hire good lawyers to fight their case due to lack of money resulting in the accused getting away with it. Posted By: Imtiaz Imam
Dated: Friday, November 19, 2010
the compensation make one feels like a prostitute i think the right step would have been speedy justice, exemplary tough punishment for rapists after ender sensitive trials. The compensation offer makes a woman feels like a prostitute. Posted By: nandini mazumder
Dated: Friday, November 19, 2010
firm laws to be implemented More than financial aid the government should have laws to stop the crime. It sounds as if the financial worries are important than punishing the criminal. Posted By: Anannya Dutta
Dated: Friday, November 19, 2010
Stringent laws required Good to know that the government plans to give financial aid but this isn't what the victims need. A rape victim can't bring back her lost dignity and self respect. Stringent laws and actions against the prepetrators would be appreciated. Posted By: Purba Das
Dated: Friday, November 19, 2010
Good step Financial aid is a must. I second the step. Posted By: Navjot Kaur Rajiyal
Dated: Friday, November 19, 2010
more awareness Compensation and aid cannot be of help beyond certain extent since the stigma prevails throughout life. More emphasis could be laid on women security and promoting self defence awareness and importance among them.
Posted By: vani manocha
Dated: Friday, November 19, 2010
A strict law can deter the criminals I appreciate the sympathetic motive of women welfare ministry to provide pecuniary assistance to the Rape victims. The step would surely give some assistance to the victims.
Besides raising the hand of help the victims, the government should also think of some stringent law to deter the rapists, who commit such a bestial act. Posted By: tausif alam
Dated: Thursday, November 18, 2010
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