The state government on Friday announced a sharp increase in compensation paid to rape survivors and victims of acid attack and other crimes. The compensation would be paid to victims irrespective of their sex, and it would also cover victims of POCSO Act. Announcing the Gujarat Victim Compensation Scheme 2018, minister of state for home Pradipsinh Jadeja said in a statement that the government had increased the compensation in line with the scheme approved by the Supreme Court. "The Supreme Court approved scheme did not cover victims of POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, but the state government has taken a sensitive approach, and included them in the scheme too. Similarly, the scheme will cover not just women, but all victims," Jadeja said. In the scheme, implemented by Gujarat State Legal Services Authority, the compensation for rape survivors has been increased from minimum Rs 3 lakh earlier to Rs 4-7 lakh. Similarly, gang-rape survivors would get Rs 5-10 lakh compensation, and victims of unnatural sex Rs 4-7 lakh. The compensation for death due to physical violence has been fixed at Rs 5-10 lakh. For permanent disability (80% or more), the compensation would be Rs 2-5 lakh, and Rs 2-4 lakh in case of 40-80% permanent disability. For partial disability of between 20 and 40%, victims would get Rs 1-3 lakh, and Rs 1-2 lakh for up to 20% disability. For acid attacks, which lead to disfigurement, the compensation has been fixed at Rs 7-8 lakh. It also proposes different compensation for varying degrees of injuries. Similarly, compensation for loss of foetus due to rape, or loss of fertility, would be Rs 2-3 lakh, and Rs 3-4 lakh in case of pregnancy due to rape. For POCSO victims, the compensation would be 50% more than the prescribed amount. AID FOR SURVIVORS In the scheme, implemented by Gujarat State Legal Services Authority, the compensation for rape survivors has been increased from minimum Rs 3 lakh earlier to Rs 4-7 lakh. Similarly, gang-rape survivors would get Rs 5-10 lakh compensation, and victims of unnatural sex Rs 4-7 lakh

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