Scheme To Support Minor Rape Victim
Recognising the trauma faced by minor rape victims, the Union government has decided to provide medical, financial and infrastructure support to victims in cases where the sexual assault results in pregnancies.
Announced by the Women and Child Development Ministry (WCD).
Operate under the aegis of the Nirbhaya Fund and an amount of ₹74.1 crore has been allocated.
Additionally leveraged the administrative structure of Mission Vatsalya in collaboration with State governments and Child Care institutions [CCIs] to actualise this support to minor victims.
Mission Vatsalya, launched in 2021, is focused on the protection and welfare of children.
This scheme aims to provide integrated support to girl child victims under one roof, facilitate immediate, emergency and non-emergency access to a range of services.
The new scheme would be available for
Girls up to the age of 18 years at the level of childcare institutions.
For women up to 23 years at aftercare facilities.
Along with legal aid, the girls, who have been abandoned by their family due to forced pregnancy, either due to rape, or any other reason, and have no means to support themselves, will also be provided with safe transportation for attending court hearings.
The medical benefits available to beneficiaries of the scheme include maternity, neonatal and infant care.
Separate space will be allocated at the child care homes for the scheme’s beneficiaries as her needs would be different from other children residing there.
A caseworker will be appointed for taking care of the rape victims and separate funds shall be provided by the Centre to the childcare home sheltering the scheme’s beneficiaries.
Need of it
In 2021, the National Crime Records Bureau reported 51,863 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Out of these, 64% cases were reported under Section 3 and 5 (penetrative sexual assault and aggravated penetrative sexual assault, respectively).
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