Hyderabad: Cops' ignorance denies Posco victims cash aid

Hyderabad: Child rights activists said that the victims of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, 2012, are not given compensation though there is provision for financial assistance. 

Achyuta Rao, a child rights activist, blamed it on lack of knowledge on part of the police as the reason for the victims not getting any financial assistance. 

“Within 48 hours, the victim of the Pocso Act should get Rs 25,000 from the district collector and it should be done in a confidential manner without disclosing the name of the victim or her family or her place of residence. Officials should inform the district collector about it and through a special messenger the cash should be handed over to the victim,” he said. 

“There are many cases when the victims are not provided the compensation immediately. It could be owing to the lack of knowledge about the POCSO Act,” he added. 

After the case is registered, Rs 50,000 should be given and when the chargesheet is filed a sum of Rs 25,000 should be paid, he said.

The police sends the victims to the Bharosa centre to provide shelter, medical assistance and counselling. “After the process is completed, we send the details to the child protection officer who takes up the cases,” said an official at the Bharosa centre. 

Mr Mohamed Imtiyaz Raheem, district child protection officer, Hyderabad, said that the practice of sending the cases started a few months ago. So far, 41 victims were given Rs 25,000 compensation in the city, he said.