by Haryananewswire
CHANDIGARH, JAN 24
The Haryana Government has notified a scheme namely -"Relief and Rehabilitation of Women Acid Victims" to provide ad hoc relief, medical reimbursement and rehabilitation services to women acid victims in the State.
Stating
this here today, Principal Secretary, Women and Child Development
Department Mrs. Dheera Khandelwal said that only the victims facing
acid attack after May 2, 2011 would be eligible under the scheme and it
would cover all acid attack victim girls or women residing in Haryana.
She said that an application might be filed either by the victim or by
her heir claiming on her behalf in cases where the victim herself was
disabled to make an application.
Mrs.
Khandelwal said that a State Level Committee has been constituted under
the chairpersonship of Women and Child Development Minister for
considering the claims and awarding compensation or relief or
rehabilitation of women acid victims. The other members of the Committee
included Principal Secretary Women and Child Development Department,
Principal Secretary, Health, Principal Secretary, Social Justice and
Empowerment Department and Principal Secretary, Welfare of Scheduled
Castes and Backward Classes Department. Director, Women and Child
Development Department would be the Member Secretary .
She
said that the Committee would coordinate and monitor the functions of
District Level Committee. It would ensure proper disbursement of the
funds allocated under the scheme and any additional amount to be
supplemented by the State Government to the District Committees. Apart
from this the Committee would also issue directions to the appropriate
authorities under the Act for ensuring proper medical, psychological and
legal assistance to the victim. All the medical reimbursement would be
approved by the Committee before providing the financial relief.
She
said that at district level, Committee for "Relief and Rehabilitation
of Women Acid Attack Victims" has been constituted under the
Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner. The Committee would have
exclusive jurisdiction to deal with the applications received under the
scheme in the district. The Committee would have two or more members
having expertise in matters relating to criminal law, working in the
field of empowerment of women and medical doctor. She said that out of
these, atleast two members would be women.
Mrs.
Khandelwal said that the District Level Committee would consider the
claims and award compensation or relief or rehabilitation as the case
might be in accordance with procedure prescribed under the scheme. The
Committee would coordinate and monitor the provisions provided under the
scheme with government and non government organizations, for rendering
assistance to the victim in form of any legal, medical, psychological,
and any other form of aid or assistance. She said that the District
Magistrate would consider the claims as deemed fit in the circumstances
of the case and would give adhoc relief to the victim and would forward
the financial claims regarding medical reimbursement to Director, Women
and Child Development Department, Haryana.
She
said that the victim's parents or guardians or legal heir might apply
to the committee for compensation in accordance with the provisions of
the scheme within 15 days. In case of girl, the application might be
made on her behalf by a parent or guardian. In case of married women the
application might be made on her behalf by husband or parent or
guardian. She said that an applicant would have to submit the documents
with the application which included a medical certificate where the
application was being made by or on behalf of the victim and copy of FIR
or complaint.
Mrs.
Khandelwal said that on receiving the application and after having been
prima facie satisfied that a case of acid has been made out, the
Committee would order an adhoc relief of Rs. 25,000 at the earliest
which would be recouped from Women and Child Development Department. The
Committee might get a home study of the victim conducted for making an
assessment of additional needs of the victims and apply other welfare
scheme or relief as might be available to the applicant. She said that
in case of serious victims, the Committee after getting the examination
done of the injury from duly qualified and reputed Government Medical Practitioner would forward the application
to Women and Child Development Department along with the medical bills
received from the victim or legal heir or parent in prescribed performa
applicable to Haryana Government employees or pensioners to be verified
by medical attendant duly counter signed by concerned Civil Surgeon.
She
said that the Committee would forward the application to the Director,
Women and Child Development for medical reimbursement within 15 days
from the date on which the complainant gives her evidence or within one
month from the date of receipt of application whichever is earlier. The
application has to be made before the Committee within 15 days from the
date of incident provided that upon showing valid reasons the Committee
would have the powers to condone the delay, if any. She said that the
Committee might reject any application where it is of the considered
opinion that the applicant failed to take without delay all reasonable
steps to inform the police or other person considered by the Committee
to be appropriate for the purpose of the circumstances giving rise to
the attack; the applicant failed to cooperate with the police or other
authority in attempting to bring the convict to justice or the applicant
has failed to give all reasonable assistance to the Committee or other
body or person in connection with the application.
Mrs.
Khandelwal said that the Committee would hear the claims for
compensation at such time and in such places as the Committee might
determine and would notify the applicant of the time and place of
hearing of the relevant application. The Committee would reach its
decision on the basis of evidence and other information available to it
at the hearing. She said that the payment of the medical reimbursement
would be made through bank draft to the victim or legal heir through the
concerned Programme Officer of the Women and Child Development
Department.
She
said that the severe acid victim would be treated in disabled persons
category as per certified by the Medical Board of the concerned
district. If any victim needs rehabilitation services, could seek the
support from Swadhar Shelter Homes running in the State. At present
these Shelter Homes were running in Gurgaon and Bhiwani. These homes
might vary from to time, she added.
Mrs.
Khandelwal said that an amount of Rs. 25,000 would be provided by the
concerned Deputy Commissioner or Sub Divisional Magistrate as adhoc
relief to the victim at the earliest after lodging the FIR which would
be reimbursed from Women and Child Development Department. She said
that where death of the victim occurs, the Board would on the facts and
circumstances of the case, pay a lump sum of Rs. five lakh to the legal
heir, the children of the deceased if she has any, so as to protect the
interests of the child. This would be in addition to any expenses
incurred towards the treatment of the victim.
She
said that hundred per cent medical reimbursement of all treatment
including plastic surgery, if any, was allowed to a victim of acid
attack from amongst the hospitals approved by the Haryana Government
under the category of "All diseases" and "Artificial
Appliances".
The
amendments and the deletion or addition of hospitals made by the
Government from time to time would also be automatically be applicable
under the scheme, she added.
No. IPRDH/2013
Vinay
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