Scheme for critical care and support for accessing justice to rape gang rape survivors and minor girls who get pregnant

Under Nirbhaya Fund, a scheme of Ministry of Women &Child Development namely Scheme for critical care and support for accessing justice to rape gang rape survivors and minor girls who get pregnant was appraised at the total cost of Rs.74.10 cr. The scheme aims at providing shelter, food & daily needs, safe transportation for attending court hearings and legal aid to the minor girls who have been abandoned by the family due to forced pregnancy, either due to rape/ gang rape or due to any other reason, and have no other means to support themselves.

Objectives of the Scheme are :

1. To provide integrated support and assistance to girl child victims under one roof and
2. To facilitate immediate, emergency and non-emergency access to a range of services including access to education, police assistance, medical (also comprising maternity, neo-natal and infant care), psychological and mental counselling legal support and insurance cover for the girl child victim and her new-born under one roof to enable access to justice and rehabilitation of such girl child victims.

The eligibility criteria are :

1. Any girl below the age of 18 years, who is a victim of: Penetrative Sexual Assault – Section 3 of the POCSO Act, Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault – Section 5 of the POCSO Act and Section 376, 376A-E of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC).
2. And has become pregnant due to such assault or rape is covered under the Scheme. Such girl child victim should be an orphan or Abandoned by the family or Does not wish to live with the family.