Madhya Pradesh govt declares award after Aruna Shanbaug

Aruna’s case is a reminder of how far we have come in prosecuting rape and sexual assault cases. (Illustration: Shyam)

A day after her death, the Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday instituted an award in the name of Aruna Shanbaug, the nurse who had lived in a vegetative state for 42 years after being brutally sexually assaulted, and triggered a debate on passive euthanasia. The award, which carries a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh, will be given to those working to stop violence against women.

CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan made this announcement at a mahila panchayat, where he unveiled the state’s new policy for women for 2015. He announced that the beti bachao campaign will be started in a new form and a chapter on the social evil will be added in school textbooks.

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