Shillong Feb 8: The state Cabinet on Friday approved amendment to the Meghalaya Victim Compensation Scheme, 2014 which seeks to also include male child victims of sexual abuse.

Home Minister, James K. Sangma told reporters after the cabinet meeting that the the Ministry of Women and Child Development had adviced the government to include the word male child victims of sexual abuse in the victim compensation scheme of the state while the Ministry of Home Affairs has also adviced the state to modify the scheme in accordance with the central victim compensation scheme in order make victims eligible for financial support from the Central fund.

In view of the above advices, Sangma said that the Meghalaya Victim Compensation Scheme has been modified and the definition of victim means a woman or girl child or male child who has suffered injury caused by the act due to sexual harassment.

He also said that there are instances which have taken place and the government felt that it should not exclude male child victims who earlier were completely out of the purview of the compensation scheme.

Meanwhile, the State Cabinet also approved the proposal for extension of the tenure of the Administrative Rules and Regulations Revision Advisory Committee (ARRAC) by another two years.

Sangma said that the extension was necessary in view of pending tasks related to the treasury rules, financial rules and others to be completed by the Committee.

Sangma said that the committee has been extended for two more years with effect from February 12.

The ARRAC was set up by the state government on February 12, 2016. The ARRAC was extended twice and the second extension will end on February 11.