Maha Govt Likely to Table Amendments to Manodhairya Scheme in Winter Assembly Session | Exclusive

The Maharashtra government, which started the Manodhairya Scheme to provide women and children who are victims of rape and acid attacks with financial help, is likely to table amendments to the plan in the ongoing winter session of the state assembly, sources have told News18.

After the state cabinet approves the amendments, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is likely to table them this week on the floor of the House and seek the approval so that the official order will be issued as early as possible.

The state government aims to rehabilitate the victims from the psychological trauma, and provide them with shelter, medical and legal aid and counselling under this scheme.

The revised draft includes the victims (Women and children) of flammable substances such as gas, kerosene, petrol and diesel.

The Women and Child Development Department will be implementing the scheme in Maharashtra, under which, the victims will be given a financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh and, in special cases, Rs 10 Lakh. Based on the requirement, the WCD department will also provide rehabilitation of victims and their dependents through shelter, counselling, medical and legal support, and education and vocational training.

After its launch in 2013, the first revision of the scheme was completed in 2017 when the grant was raised to Rs 10 lakh. In 2020, it was decided that acid and rape victims (women & children), victims of inflammable substances should also be included under this scheme. In the same year, as a procedure, the WCD department sent a proposal to the law & judiciary, and finance departments for their suggestion. In the proposal, an additional fund of Rs 1.93 crore was demanded by the department every year for the effective implementation of the scheme.

The WCD department also intends to make the entire system computerised to help the victims get compensation as early as possible. It intends to have its software and a separate website for this scheme. According to the sources, the department will be also asking for an increase in funds while tabling the amendments to this scheme. According to the source, the WCD department requires approximately Rs 7.80 crore for the effective implementation of the scheme in the state. This fund also includes the grant, which will be issued to the victims, and other technical and administrative costs.