VICTIM ASSISTANCE SCHEME AMENDED

With a view to ensure timely assistance to the acid victims in Chandigarh, the UT Administration has amended Union Territory of Chandigarh Victim Assistance Scheme, 2012. The scheme would be called Union Territory of Chandigarh Victim Assistance (Amendment) Scheme 2013.

Under the scheme, maximum amount of Rs 3 lakh is provided to victims of acid attack. The UT Administration has amended the procedure of issuing grant to acid attack victims. “In the case of victims of acid attack, a sum of Rs 1 lakh shall be paid to the victims within 15 days of occurrence of such incident (or being brought to the notice of the State Government/Union Territory), to facilitate immediate medical attention and expenses in this regard. The balance sum of Rs 2 lakh shall be paid as expeditiously as may be possible and positively within two months thereafter,” said the orders issued by the UT Administration on December 3.

The orders stated, “Exercising the powers conferred by Section 357A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Act 2 of 1974), UT Administrator is pleased to amend the Union territory of Chandigarh Victim Assistance Scheme 2012, in view of the directions contained in the order dated 18.7.2013 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India passes in Writ Petition no. 129 of 2006 titled Laxmi Vs UOI and others.”

In past several years, Chandigarh has witnessed several cases of acid attacks. In a conviction in an acid attack case this year, a local Court had awarded seven-year imprisonment to two youths after holding them guilty of attempt to murder. The acid attack victim Neha, working as a sales service associate in a Mall at Industrial Area, Phase 1, was seriously injured in an acid attack near Sector 28 traffic lights on November 27, 2011.

Notably, the Chandigarh Victim Assistance Scheme financially assist the victim or his/her dependent, who have suffered loss or injury or both as a result of the crime and who require rehabilitation. The scheme is funded from the Consolidated Fund of India, as per requirements of the Scheme. The cost of the assistance is from the wrongdoer or accused and would be treated as public demand to be recovered in accordance with the relevant provisions of law.

The victim or his/her dependent(s) who have not received any assistance for the loss or injury under any other scheme of the Central Government or UT Administration of this nature are eligible for the grant of Assistance. According to the clauses of Scheme, no claim of Assistance will be entertained after a period of three  years from the date of commission of crime.

Under the scheme, a maximum amount of Rs 3 lakh is provided to rape victims, Rs 2-Rs 3 lakh in case of any limb or part of body resulting in 80 percent disability or above, Rs 50,000 to the victim of human trafficking, child abuse and kidnapping.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/chandigarh/victim-assistance-scheme-amended.html