Kochi: A reply under RTI has revealed that the state government has granted Rs 2.04 crore under the Victim's compensation Scheme in the last two years. Of this, Rs 1.07 crore was given away to the victims in the cases registered under the Protection Of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Scheme was launched in 2014 to extend support to victims. During 2016-17, Rs 1.03 crore was earmarked for victims under the POCSO Act. The state considered 41 cases and handed over an interim compensation of Rs 5.9 lakh. During 2015-16, Rs 8.5 lakh was given to three victims in the POCSO case. Rs 40 lakh was given to 23 beneficiries of 9 murder cases and Rs 24 lakh to victims in hit and run cases.
The government formulated the Scheme on February 24, 2014. The objective of the scheme was to provide funds for the purpose of compensation to the victim or his/her dependents who have suffered loss or injury as a result of the crime and who requires rehabilitation. Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA) gave the RTI reply to Dhanraj S of Kochi, an RTI activist. KELSA in March 2016 had replied that that it was planning to disburse '21.5 lakh to the various District Legal Service Societies.
The government had entrusted KELSA with the disbursement of compensation. Under the scheme, the compensation for death due to crime is Rs 5 lakh, that for culpable homicide not amounting to murder is Rs 3 lakh, and for causing death by negligence Rs 2 lakh. Rape victims would be entitled to get a compensation of up to Rs 3 lakh, while sexual assault victims and minors subjected to physical abuse will get a maximum of Rs 50,000.
