Compensation scheme for differently abled
T. Ramakrishnan CHENNAI: The State government has framed a scheme of payment of compensation to differently abled persons who become victims of crime. Called Victim Assistance Fund for Differently Abled Persons, the scheme has earmarked a sum of Rs.1 lakh for each district. A sum of Rs.5,000 will be given to the differently abled when they suffer grievous injuries or fall victims of major crime incidents such as rape and Rs.10,000 to their legal heirs in the event of murder, according to an order issued by the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons Department last month. In addition, an assistance of Rs.200 per day may be paid to meet the expenditure during the trial of the case subject to a maximum of Rs.2,000 per victim per case. Conveyance allowance of Rs.500 and sitting allowance of Rs.300 per sitting will be paid to advocates who provide free legal service to differently abled persons. An interpretation allowance of Rs.300 will be paid per sitting to interpreter or teacher. District Collectors will administer the fund. Headed by the Collectors, the district-level committees will comprise Superintendents of Police/City Police Commissioners and District Differently Abled Welfare Officers. The committees will meet at least once in a month to consider and decide the cases of granting relief. The government's action follows the directions of the Madras High Court in November 2009 to frame a scheme for providing solatium to differently abled persons. The scheme has been modelled on the basis of Victim Assistance Fund for victims of major crime incidents. Date:08/06/2010 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2010/06/08/stories/2010060860820400.htm Voice your thoughts in the blog to discuss the Rights of persons with disability bill at: http://www.accessindia.org.in/harish/blog.htm To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
