Only 5-10% of sexual assault victims get compensation: SC told

Hardly 5-10 per cent of sexual assault victims across the country were able to get compensation under the relevant schemes in various states, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) told the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

A bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta was told that maximum 10 per cent victims were getting compensation under the schemes.

NALSA said as per the data of Andhra Pradesh, of the 901 cases lodged in 2017, only one victim has received compensation.

In 2016, 840 such cases were lodged in Andhra Pradesh but only eight victims got compensation, said the NALSA data, adding that of the 1,028 cases registered in 2017 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in the state, only 11 victims were compensated.

In Rajasthan, 3,305 such cases were registered in 2017 and 140 victims received compensation.

In Bihar, 1,199 FIRs of sexual assault were lodged in 2017 but only 82 victims were compensated, revealed the data.

After the December 16, 2012 gang-rape and murder case in Delhi, the Central government in 2013 announced a Nirbhaya Fund scheme to support the initiatives of the governments and the NGOs working for women's safety.

The court was hearing petitions filed after the gangrape case in 2012, raising concerns over the safety and security of women.

--IANS

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