Srinagar: The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik accorded approval to the notification of the Jammu and Kashmir Victim Compensation Scheme- 2019.

The scheme is aimed at providing immediate succor to the victims of various crimes and their families and also to financially help the victim, an official spokesman said here late last night. 

The scheme is also applicable to the minor victims and compensation shall be awarded in heinous offences like loss of life, gangrape, custodial rape, rape, unnatural sexual assault, loss of limb, grievous physical injury or any mental injury, loss of foetus and miscarriage as a result of assault or loss of fertility, pregnancy on account of rape, victims of burning-disfigurement/injury and victims of acid attack-disfigurement or injury. 

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He said that the Victim Compensation Scheme of 2013 provided for compensation ranging from Rs 1 lakh to 3 lakh for eight categories of victims. The Victim Compensation Scheme-2019 provides for compensation to 15 categories along with sub-categories of victims and compensation ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. The scheme is more inclusive in that it includes two additional heads, viz., death by torture in police custody and injury causing severe mental agony to women and child victims in cases like human trafficking. 

There is also a provision for constitution of a Fund, which shall be called the Victims Compensation Fund from which the amount of compensation, as decided by the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) or District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) shall be paid to the victim or the dependent(s) who have suffered loss or injury as a result of an offence and who require rehabilitation. The Fund shall be operated by SLSA.

A victim or the dependent (s) as the case may be, shall be eligible for grant of compensation under this scheme. However, the compensation received by them in the other schemes shall be taken into account while deciding the quantum of compensation. 

The application and recommendations for compensation can be moved either before SLSA or the concerned DLSA or filed online on a portal which shall be created by all SLSAs.