New Delhi,
Is rape worth Rs 6,500? That’s how a shocked Supreme Court today asked the Madhya Pradesh government while questioning the state whether it was doing a “charity” by giving this meagre amount to the victims of sexual assaults.

The apex court said it was shocking that Madhya Pradesh, which was among the states that had received maximum funds from the Centre under the Nirbhaya Fund scheme, was disbursing Rs 6,000-6,500 only to each rape victim.

The Nirbhaya Fund scheme was announced by the Centre in 2013 after the sensational December 16, 2012, gang-rape and murder case in Delhi to support the initiatives of governments and the NGOs working for women’s safety.

A Bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta, while perusing the affidavit filed by Madhya Pradesh, said, “According to you (Madhya Pradesh) and your affidavit, on an average, you are paying Rs 6,000 to a rape victim. Are you doing a charity? How can you do so…. You value a rape at Rs 6,500?… this is total insensitiveness.”