New scheme to provide assistance to rape victims

New Delhi, May 23: In a bid to ensure restorative justice to the rape victims, the government has formulated a new scheme of financial assistance and support services to enable them to cope with the trauma and tide over their immediate and long-term needs.

"The scheme seeks to restore the affected women to a position of dignity and self-confidence," says the report card of UPA-II government, presented by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday, May 22, on the completion of two years in power.

"A new scheme of financial assistance and support services to victims of rape has been formulated to provide financial assistance to enable the victims of rape to cope with the trauma suffered and tide over their immediate and long-term needs.

"The ceiling of financial assistance, together with support services, is Rs 2 lakh, which can be enhanced to Rs 3 lakh in case of ''aggravated rape''," it said.

The report also highlights the alarming incidents of sexual offences against children.

"The reported incidents of sexual offences against children have been on the rise. At the same time, the conviction rate for such offences has been going down," it said.

To address this issue, a bill on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences has been introduced in Parliament this year, the report said.

On the issue of sexual harassment of women at the workplace, the government said it is a violation of women's right to equality, life and liberty.

Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace bill has been introduced in the Lok Sabha during the winter session of Parliament.

PTI