While the state has disbursed the amount to compensate 745 beneficiaries, there are no records to show whether they have actually received it
Shakti Mills
Launched amidst much hype, Manodhairya Yojana —the state’s relief scheme for rape and acid attack survivors — doesn’t seem to be living up to its promise yet, with the Women and Child Welfare (WCW) department struggling to even maintain basic records. As a result, the department is clueless whether 745 of the scheme’s beneficiaries have even received the Rs 15 crore it had disbursed for them.
After the horrific gangrape cases at Shakti Mills in Mumbai last year, the state announced the Manodhairya scheme to ensure that survivors of such crimes would get immediate relief and compensation
After the horrific gangrape cases at Shakti Mills in Mumbai last year, the state announced the Manodhairya scheme to ensure that survivors of such crimes would get immediate relief and compensation. According to officials, however, the department does not have any records for the scheme since August 2, and it hasn’t even followed up to check whether the beneficiaries have received their compensation.
District Probationary Officer, ND Dahale, told mid-day that so far, the state has transferred funds to just 404 beneficiaries. “A total of 1,601 cases were registered under Manodhairya scheme since it was introduced in October, 2013. Out of these, compensation was approved for 1,149 cases. However, till August 12, only 404 beneficiaries actually received it,” Dahale said.
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He added that while Rs 15 crore had already been disbursed by the WCW department for those remaining beneficiaries, there are no records to show that the money has been received by them, and there has been no follow up on it since August 12. In fact, it has emerged that the department does not even have any records of new cases registered under the scheme, calling its efficiency to question.
‘Hard to keep track’
“We work manually and therefore it’s not an easy task to keep tabs on the cases and the compensation for beneficiaries from across the state. Considering this, the 25 schemes, including Manodhairya scheme, that come under WCW department will be available online in next few months,” informed Dahale.
Schemes to go online
Dahale added that a Pune-based software company was working towards making the database accessible online, and that the Manodhairya scheme would be transferred on priority basis. “It would then be possible for us to keep a tab on the cases and compensations, sitting in our office,” he said. The online database would ensure that every time the District Criminal and Injuries Boards (DCIB) records a fresh case under Manodhairya, the WCW officials will be able to see the update immediately, from their own office.
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