You value a rape at Rs. 6,000?: SC rebukes MP
The SC was shocked to find out that Madhya Pradesh (MP), which got the highest amount among states from the Nirbhaya Fund, spent around just Rs. 6,000 on an average per rape victim. "You value a rape at Rs. 6,500? Are you doing charity?" asked the bench. To make matters worse, 24 states and union territories hadn't even bothered to submit their expenditure details.
30% of Nirbhaya Fund still remains unused
The Nirbhaya Fund was created by the Center in 2013 in honor of the December 2012 Delhi gangrape victim, meant to increase safety for women. But an RTI query revealed last week that only Rs. 825cr out of Rs. 2,711cr, a mere 30%, has been utilized till now. Meanwhile, another Rs. 500cr was pumped into the Fund in Budget 2018.
MP has spent Rs. 1cr on compensating 1,951 rape victims
Out of states, MP had received the highest amount, the SC noted, but it was "shocking" that it had spent only Rs. 1cr on compensating 1,951 rape victims. That's an average of Rs. 6,000-6,500 per victim. "For MP, the figures are fantastic...You are giving (victims) Rs. 6,000-6,500 each. Is that good, commendable? What is this?" the bench asked, adding, "This is total insensitiveness."
District judges decide compensation amount: MP defends
Incidentally, MP recently approved the death penalty for rapists of minors under 12. In its defense, the state's top cop Aruna Mohan Rao said the quantum of compensation is decided by district judges under the Legal Services Authority's supervision.
Tell women you don't care for them: SC rebukes others
However, 24 states and UTs hadn't even submitted their expenditure details despite the SC asking for it. "It's sad that a large number of state governments are not bothered about safety of women in their states," the bench remarked. It gave them another four weeks to file affidavits, or "tell the women in your state that you do not care for them."
