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Thursday, December 19, 2013

State enhances compensation for women victims of violence by 1000%

GANGTOK, 18 Dec: Evolving national perspectives and priorities especially with regard to women together with the public discourse over the past year on issues of violence against women seems to have had an impact on the state government. It is informed that the government has enhanced compensation to women who are victims of extreme forms of violence by 1000% and for victims of rape the compensation has been doubled. Also, for child victims of crime who suffer injuries the compensation has been enhanced by 500%.
These amounts are the maximum limit of compensation as a result of crime that can be awarded by the government. Now, women who are victims of assault and suffer disfigurement on the face or any part of the body by acid or other weapon stand to be compensated with Rs. 3 lakh.
It is informed that this is a significant enhancement of 1000% from the prior compensation amount of Rs. 30,000.
In another similar measure, it is informed that the compensation for a rape victim has been enhanced to Rs. 1 lakh; the previous compensation amount was Rs. 50,000. This again, is a substantial increase in the compensation value by 100%. For loss or injury caused due to severe mental agony to women and children especially who are victims of human trafficking the compensation amount has been doubled from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000.
Meanwhile, there has been a similar enhancement for child victims of crime who suffer injuries. The enhancement on this count, as informed, is by 500%. It is informed that now the state government would be offering compensation for simple loss or injury to child victims to the tune of Rs. 1 lakh; this is an increase from the prior compensation amount of Rs. 20,000. This is particularly for child victims of offences under the Protection of Child from Sexual offences Act, 2012.
As is evident the above mentioned values signify an important breach from the traditional mindset especially in government circles regarding victims of violence and their suffering. The earlier amounts being offered as compensation appear paltry in comparison to the newly instituted amounts.
It is informed that this scheme of compensation comes under the Sikkim Compensation to Victims or their Dependents Schemes; apart from providing compensation to victims of crime it also compensates their dependents. This has been framed under the Code of Criminal Procedure. A victim is defined as a person who has suffered loss or injury as a result of crime and requires rehabilitation and also includes dependents. The compensation for Rehabilitation remains at Rs. 30,000. The time limit is 3 years from the date of crime.
The State Legal Services Authority is also empowered to institute proceedings for recovery of the compensation amount awarded to the victim from the perpetrator of the crime. These proceedings are to be instituted in a court of law.

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