NEW DELHI – Is rape worth Rs 6,500? That’s how a shocked Supreme Court onThursday asked the Madhya Pradesh government while questioning the statewhether it was doing a “charity” by giving this meagre amount to thevictims of sexual assaults.

The apex court said it was shocking that Madhya Pradesh, which was amongthe states which had received maximum funds from the Centre under theNirbhaya fund scheme, was disbursing Rs 6,000-6,500 only to each rapevictim.

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

A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta, while perusingthe affidavit filed by Madhya Pradesh, said, “According to you (MadhyaPradesh) and your affidavit, on an average, you are paying Rs 6,000 to arape victim. Are you doing a charity? How can you do so… You value a rapeat Rs 6,500?”

“For Madhya Pradesh, the figures are fantastic. There are 1,951 rapevictims in Madhya Pradesh and you are giving them Rs 6,000-Rs 6,500 each.Is that good, commendable? What is this,” the bench asked, adding, “this istotal insensitiveness”.

The bench termed it “shocking” that despite getting the maximum amountunder the Nirbhaya Fund, the state had only spent around Rs one crore on1,951 rape victims.

The Haryana government also faced the wrath of the top court today for notfiling its affidavit giving details about Nirbhaya Fund.

The court had last month directed all states and union territories (UTs) tofile an affidavit indicating the amount received by them under the NirbhayaFund towards victim compensation, amount disbursed by them under the schemeand the number of victims of sexual assault. As many as 24 states and UTsare yet to file their affidavits.

During the hearing, when Haryana’s counsel said they would file theiraffidavit, the bench observed, “If you have not filed affidavit, it is avery clear indication of what you feel for safety of women in your state”.

“You take your time and tell the women in your state that you do not carefor them,” the bench said while observing that 24 states and UTs have notyet filed their affidavit as per the court’s direction.

When the counsel representing one of the petitioners told the bench thatthey have so far received only one affidavit filed on behalf of Sikkim, thebench asked, “is this becoming a joke? If you are not interested in thiscase, tell us. On what basis you are saying that only one state has filedaffidavit. You do not even see the office report?”.

The counsel for Meghalaya told the bench that they have disbursed around Rs30.55 lakh to 48 victims of sexual assault.

In its order, the bench noted that despite all talks, discussions andintent expressed on gender justice, 24 states and UTs have not yet filedtheir affidavits.

It asked these states and UTs to file their affidavits within four weeks,”if at all they were interested” in the welfare of women.

Earlier, the Centre had told the apex court that it was finding itdifficult to get the cooperation of states on the issue relating todisbursal of compensation to the victims of sexual assault under theNirbhaya scheme.

Six petitions were filed in the Supreme Court after the gangrape case inDelhi on December 16, 2012, raising concerns over the safety and securityof women.

All the petitions were tagged by the apex court and several directions havebeen issued from time to time in this regard.