Women engaged in flesh trade do not count as rape victims as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in a reply today.
The rape victims come under the victim compensation scheme, he said, adding, "The state government has been giving assistance according to the provision of the Union government's Central Victim Compensation Fund."
Patnaik was replying to a written question of independent MLA Umakanta Samantray who asked whether the women in flesh trade were covered under the victim compensation scheme.
"While a rape victim is entitled to get Rs 1.5 lakh compensation, the victim of penetrative sexual assault and aggravated penetrative sexual assault in case of child would get an assistance of the same value," he said.
