You value a rape at ₹6,500, ‘shocked’ SC asks M.P. govt.

You value a rape at ₹6,500, ‘shocked’ SC asks M.P. govt.

Context:

• Are you doing charity by paying ₹6,500 to a rape victim, asked the Supreme Court on Thursday after going through an affidavit filed by the Madhya Pradesh government on the compensation given under the Nirbhaya Fund scheme.

Introduction:

• The Supreme Court said that it was “shocking” that Madhya Pradesh, which was among the States that received maximum funds from the Centre under the Nirbhaya scheme, was disbursing a meagre ₹6,000-₹6,500 to each victim of sexual assault.
• There are 1,951 rape victims in Madhya Pradesh .
• The court had last month directed all States and Union Territories to file an affidavit indicating the amount received by them under the Nirbhaya Fund, the amount disbursed by them and the number of victims who had received it.
• As many as 24 States and UTs are yet to file their affidavits.
• In its order, the Bench noted that despite all talks, discussions and intent expressed on gender justice, 24 States and UTs have not yet filed their affidavits.
• It asked these States and UTs to file their affidavits within four weeks, “if at all they were interested” in the welfare of women.

About Nirbhaya Fund Scheme:

• The Nirbhaya Fund scheme was announced by the Centre in 2013 after the horrific December 16, 2012 gang-rape and murder case in Delhi, to support the initiatives of governments and NGOs working for women’s safety.

Haryana:

• The Haryana government also faced the wrath of the top court for not filing its affidavit giving details of the Nirbhaya Fund disbursement.