Only 160 sexual assault victims received interim or final compensation from the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA) in 2024-25. This is less than half the number of children who received compensation in the previous year, when 346 received compensation.
As of 2016-17, the highest number of survivors of cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO) who received victim compensation was 373 in 2022-23, according to the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights’ annual report for 2024-25.
The number fluctuates every year. By 2019–20, the highest number of survivors awarded victim compensation was 62. In 2020–21, the number rose to 225 and then increased further to fall in 2024–25.
Courts award either interim or final compensation, or both, to meet the immediate relief and rehabilitation needs of survivors.
POCSO courts in the state awarded interim compensation to 28 boys and 156 girls and final compensation to 81 boys and 419 girls.
Eight boys and 34 girls who survived POCSO sought interim compensation and four boys and 30 girls sought final compensation.
An amount of ₹ 36.25 lakh was provided as interim compensation and ₹ 2.11 lakh as final compensation to the survivors in the financial year 2024-25.
Neither interim nor final compensation was awarded in three districts – Kollam, Alappuzha and Wayanad.
No interim compensation was provided in six districts. The highest final compensation was given in Thiruvananthapuram district – ₹ 34.5 lakh. Malappuram comes next with ₹ 30.75 lakh.
While there has been improvement in the compensation awarded to survivors, it remains inadequate, the Commission on the Rights of the Child notes.
Due to delays in obtaining central funds, compensation to victims is currently paid from state funds. Crores are said to be due to the survivors. Moreover, few people realize that they have to file an application for compensation, either interim or final, with the District Legal Service Office or KELSA.
Published – 06 Nov 2025 20:57 IST
