CM has promises to keep

Hasn't delivered on compensation package to Shiney Ahuja's alleged rape victim

Promises made on the spur of the moment, broken at leisure. That's how the state government seems to work.

At a press conference on June 19, CM Ashok Chavan announced a compensation package financial help and rehabilitation for the alleged rape victim in the Shiney Ahuja case.

National Commission for Women chairperson Girija Vyas, also present at the conference, piped in and said the case would be heard in a fast track court to enable the victim to get justice quickly.

And the accused, Shiney Ahuja, would also receive the verdict quickly. She added that she had met Shiney's wife and the victim and taken down details about the case.
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Three weeks later, neither the CM nor Vyas have made good on their promises. In fact, the victim's family has not even been told of the compensation package.
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Neither the victim nor her father agreed to speak to us, but a third person did. "I have been looking into the issue on behalf of the family. They are dirt poor and extremely disturbed after the incident.
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The victim's father told me he had not heard from the CM's office or the home department about any compensation."

MiD DAY then called Ashok Chavan, who said, "We had announced the compensation, but I am in Delhi and have to check the details." And Vyas also echoed Chavan, "Let me check. The compensation paid to the victim differs from state to state."

State Chief Secretary Johny Joseph said, "There is no law that guarantees compensation to a rape victim. It entirely depends on the court's order or the state's decision."

Compensation Package

The Maharashtra State Commission for Women recommended the introduction of a scheme for relief and rehabilitation of rape victims.

Under the scheme, victims of rape, domestic violence, dowry deaths, molestation or kidnapping will receive between Rs 20,000 and Rs 2 lakh, depending on the cases.

The commission recommended, if a non-earning rape victim dies, her family would get Rs 1 lakh. In case of death of an earning member, the compensation would be Rs 2 lakh.

If the victim is alive, the commission recommended that an interim relief of Rs 20,000 for the victim followed by rehabilitation and other expenses up to Rs 50,000.

In cases where the accused is a government employee, the onus of compensating the woman will fall on that government department.