Post News Network
Sambalpur, Sept 9: Orissa Victim Compensation Scheme (OVCS), a cash assistance programme for the rape survivors launched by the state government is reportedly in disarray in the district due to shortage of grants. Inordinate delay in disposing victims’ applications also adds to their woes.
According to reports, 49 victims, from January 2014 till September 9, 2015 in the district, had applied for compensation to the district legal service authority (DLSA). However, only six of them were given compensation collectively amounting to Rs 2.95 lakh. Files of the rest of the victims are yet to be processed. This has irked the family members of the victims, a report says.
Cases of torture of women in the district are on the rise as the male members are yet to effect changes in their mentalities. Even girls of various schools and colleges are not feeling safe these days.
A study reveals that 70 women and minor girls became victims of rape from January till the end of August this year. While one of them became unwed mother, two minor girls were brutally killed after being raped. The incidents had hogged headlines across the state. Unfortunately, most of such cases don’t get registered at the police station as several victims prefer to keep silent fearing social stigma.
Another report states that the government had announced to pay compensation to the victims starting from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh under OVCS scheme. Accordingly, 32 rape survivors from Kuchinda, Shasan, Hirakud, Dhanupali, Khetrajpur, Naktideula, Jujumura, Govindpur, Charmal, Ainthapali, Redhakhol and Town police limits area had applied to DLSA for assistance in 2014. But 26 of them are yet to get the assistance even after a year has been passed since they applied for it.
Similarly, the government has failed to assist even a single victim of 2015 while 17 had sought assistance under the scheme. It was learnt that files of six victims were under process. The scheme has run into rough weather due to shortage of grants, official sources said.
When contacted, DLSA secretary Subas Bihari said the applications of the survivors are pending for want of required documents. Delay in sanction of grants has also added to the problems, he admitted.
The concerned authorities have been apprised of the situation and the issue would be resolved soon, Bihari added.