In the last two months since January, the Chhattisgarh State Legal Service Authority (SLSA) has successfully compensated 308 women, victims of abuse, including sexual harassment and other offenses, as part of the ‘Rahat’ program.
According to a CGSLSA official press release issued on Tuesday, the ‘Rahat’ drive was initiated under the joint guidance of Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court PR Ramachandran Menon, patron of CG SLSA, and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra of Chhattisgarh High Court, Executive Chairman of SLSA.
The ‘Rahat’ movement was initiated to ensure timely payment of restitution to women victims or perpetrators of sexual abuse and other crimes.
During the months of January and February 2021, the Secretaries/in-Charge Secretaries of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) decided on more than 308 applications and handed out Rs 3.20.97000 awards to be given among the women victims affected.
According to the release, DLSA Bastar resolved a total of 47 cases.
Compensation was paid out in accordance with the rules of the Supreme Court based on the Nipun Saxena v UOI case judgment. In accordance with the instructions, on 2 October 2018, Chhattisgarh issued a rule providing justice to victims of sexual abuse and other crimes who have suffered loss and are expected to be rehabilitated.
“A total of 4,05,861 cases of violence against women were reported in 2019, growing 7.3 percent from the previous year (3,78,236 cases). The most common offense against women under the IPC was ‘cruelty by husband or his family (30.9%), followed by ‘assault on women with the aim to offend her modesty’ (21.8%), ‘kidnapping & theft of women’ (17.9%), and ‘rape’ (15.9%). (7.9 percent ).
However, Chhattisgarh has seen a dip in the crime against women, and launching this ‘Rahat’ project shows the will of the authorities to work for women. Benefited women were happy and also hailed authorities for taking this step.
They said this amount will help them to bring their life together which was sabotaged by the vultures of society. some are going to use this money to start their business some will put it to educate their children.
