In a mark of respect to their resilience and untiring efforts in ensuring decent careers for their children in the absence of their husbands, a group of widows from Mumbai and surrounding areas will be treated to a free helicopter ride here on International Women's Day today.
Shivshakti Women's Association, which has been organising events in a unique way to mark the International Women's Day for past 18 years, in association with India Media Links and Event Management, has chosen to honour widows hailing from simple and ordinary families who have raised their children against all odds.
Between 11 AM and 2 PM today, the widows will be taken in turns for the helicopter ride covering all of Mumbai, said Panchasheel Shirsat, one of the organisers.
"This year we decided to honour widows who have toiled hard to raise their children making them doctors, engineers and other professionals. Till now we have received names of more than 21 such women from Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai," Shirsat said.
Among those who will be taken for the helicopter ride include Satyavatibai, Vatsalabai, Shardabai and Panchfulabai - from Mumbai and surrounding areas.
Later in the evening, these women will narrate their life experiences and how they raised their children in the face of adversity, at Bharatiya Vidyalaya near Sion Hospital.
The women will also be treated to a musical programme which will be graced by Mumbai Mayor Snehal Ambekar, Shiv Sena's Lok Sabha MP Rahul Shewale, former bureaucrat J P Dange, actor Tushar Kapoor and others.
The rules envisage that for "victims of gangrape [Section
376D of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860)], payment of Rs 8.25 lakh be made to the victim with 50 per cent after medical examination and confirmatory medical report, 25 per cent when the charge sheet is sent to the court and 25 per cent on conclusion of trial by the lower court."
In the case of rape [Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860)], "a provision of Rs five lakh rupees payment is to be made - 50 per cent after medical examination and confirmatory medical report, 25 per cent when the charge sheet is sent to the court and 25 per cent on conclusion of trial by the lower court."
For immediate withdrawal of money from the treasury so as to timely provide the relief amount, the concerned state government or Union Territory administration may provide necessary authorisation and powers to the District Magistrate.
"These rules will speed up the process of dispensation of justice to victims of atrocities. They are strongly sensitive in cases of offences against women and liberalise and expedite access to relief for the members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes who have been victims of atrocities," said the official.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment notified the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Rules, 2016 on April 14, the birthday of B R Ambedkar.
