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She was kidnapped and raped aboard a moving tempo by five men on November 24, 2010. The outrage the incident generated died down after a while. Four years later, the victim wrote to the National Commission of Women seeking their help. She spoke of the indelible scar the incident had left on her, forcing her to discontinue work and return to her home state. In recognition of the “rare and exceptional nature of the case”, she has finally been awarded a compensation, the first one since her trauma.
The South West District Legal Services Authority awarded her an interim compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh after the letter to the NCW was forwarded to the authority.
On May 23, the compensation was ordered noting that the case was “rare and exceptional where there is no yard stick to measure the immediate relief that may be provided to her”.
The victim told the NCW that due to the incident, “she had to discontinue her employment and had to cut herself from society”.
Announcing the interim award, the South West District Legal Services Authority said, “The incident is of November 2010. No financial help has been received by the victim till date as per our records. The matter is still pending before the trial Court at Dwarka courts.”
The woman at the time of the incident was staying at a rented accommodation in Delhi and had come to the capital to earn a livelihood.
“The hope and expectation of any person visiting Delhi is that being the capital city, Delhi offers safety and security, besides opportunity. In this case, the victim not only lost her livelihood and had a traumatic experience, but she also seem to have lost faith that Delhi would offer her safety and security. The fact that she has moved back to her home state and not taken up any employment in Delhi again highlights her immediate need for rehabilitation. The physical and psychological injury as a result of the violence is a matter of concern,” the authority said.
“After giving a thoughtful consideration and keeping in mind the facts and circumstances of the case and considering the nature of offence so committed, as well as considering the economic condition of the victim, I am of the opinion that an interim compensation of Rs 1,50,000 be awarded to the victim,” H S Bhalla, secretary DLSA – SW, said.
The authority has directed that an account be opened in a nationalised bank in the name of the victim and that the SHO/IO assist the victim in opening the bank account.
The copy of the order has been sent to the divisional commissioner with the direction to “immediately disburse” the compensation amount.
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