A government plan that offers women insurance for rape has come in for sharp criticism by women’s groups who call it outrageous and insensitive.
The plan, inaugurated by the state-run General Insurance Corp. on Friday, is part of a comprehensive insurance package for women that covers death, injuries and disabilities caused by accidents, surgery, snake bites, drowning, murder and terrorism, the Asian Age newspaper reported.
But women’s groups say insuring against rape indicates the government treats sexual crime like an accident that can be compensated with money.
“The scheme . . . is an affront to the women’s movement, which has fought all these years to demand sensitive handling of rape victims and the strongest punishment for rapists,” said Shabnam Hashmi of the Sahmat group.
Under the plan, a woman pays an annual premium of 30 cents and can win compensation of up to $600 if she suffers permanent disability.
