NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Saturday announced a scheme for providing compensation and rehabilitation to the rape victims. The scheme provides for financial relief ranging between Rs. 2 lakh and Rs. 5 lakh. The commission has also sought amendments to the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to make it more gender sensitive and punishment more stringent.

"While the draft relief package would be handed over to the Government next week, the proposed amendments to IPC to make it gender-friendly would be submitted in the next 10 days,'' NCW chairperson Girija Vyas told reporters here. The scheme comes following a Supreme Court directive to the Government and NCW in the Delhi Domestic Working Women's Forun vs. the Union of India and others case judgment of 1993.

The first set of draft had been given to the Centre in 1996 but it was sent back to the commission with some observations. It has now been re-drafted, Ms. Vyas said adding that such a thing had become necessary because of high incidence or rapes, particularly in the capital, that had resulted in a sense of insecurity among women. She hoped that the recommendations would eventually be enacted as law.

Board to be set up

The package provides for setting up of District Criminal Inquiries Relief Board to be headed by the Collector of the District Magistrate at the State level that would be empowered to grant compensation up to Rs. 2 lakh, depending on the nature of the case or injuries. A similar board would be set up at the Centre. Any victim — woman or child — or the victim's legal heirs will have the right to financial relief and would get an immediate assistance of Rs. 20,000 to seek legal aid. A victim or dependant or a non-government organisation can also apply to the Board on behalf of the victim.

The District Boards would be monitored by a Monitoring Committee headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police and this will provide psychological and medical aid besides counselling to the victim. It will also help the victim in getting legal aid to file the FIR. It will ensure protection to the victim until the conclusion of the trial and also monitor the progress of the investigation.

Young victims

In the case of young victims, it will ensure that they receive education, professional training or get self-employment. Apart from recommending two women members on the Board and Monitoring Committee, the NCW has suggested that female investigating officers should be appointed.

Creation of a national rape victim assistance fund with budgetary allocations from the Centre has been recommended.

The chairperson of the commission would also be the chairperson of the Central Criminal Inquiries Relief Board that would monitor the implementation of the compensation package and would issue guidelines for the implementation.

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