Sex abuse survivors in Kerala have not been paid compensation, which has been reportedly pending for the last 10 years.
Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) launched by the central government in 2015 under the Nirbhaya scheme to each state and union territory, was also not yet received by the victims in the state.
This is a one time grant of Rs 200 crore provided by the central government to effectively implement the already existing compensatory funds notified by respective states under the provisions of section 357A of Cr.PC and provide financial support to victims of various crimes like sexual offences including rape, acid attacks, crime against children and human trafficking.
The fund has not been available to Kerala as the state has not yet framed its policies according to VCF guidelines.
“Child survivors of sex abuse have not been compensated for the last 10 years. Unless the court issues a verdict, the victims will not receive any relief. In the Suryanelli case, the victim is yet to get compensation. A six-year old abused by her father is yet to receive any compensation from the government and the child has lost her home and childhood,“ an official with the Social Justice Department (SJD) told The Times of India.
Kerala usually sources funds for sexual victims through the budget allocations, by collecting fines from the convicts in the cases and from other contributors. As per the report by Laxmi Prasanna Ajai in ToI, all these sources of funds are not completely effective and they are available only in a limited number of cases.
Organisations like the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR) has been requesting the government to frame policies to receive VCF from the Centre.
KeSCPCR member Fr Phillip Parakkat told ToI that they have recommended the state government to ensure timely release of funds under Nirbhaya scheme through proper coordination between home department and KELSA (Kerala State Legal Services Authority).