Cabinet clears flat in Dwarka for family of gangrape victim

The government on Thursday decided to allot a Delhi Development Authority (DDA) flat to the family of the 23-year-old woman who was gangraped and tortured on a moving bus in South Delhi last December. She died in a Singapore hospital 13 days after the assault that sparked outrage across the country.

Officials said a middle-income group flat, which costs around Rs 50 lakh, is likely to be allotted from the vacant pool with the DDA. The proposal, mooted by the Urban Development Ministry, got the Union Cabinet's approval during a meeting on Thursday evening.

"The Cabinet approved the sanction and grant of an apartment of DDA to the unfortunate victim of the Delhi gangrape case," Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told reporters.

An official statement said the allotment will be done in relaxation of the existing policy/guidelines of DDA for allotment of houses on out of turn basis. The cost of the flat will be borne by the Delhi government.

Until Thursday evening, the family seemed unaware about the allotment. The victim's brother said no official had informed them about the allotment in Dwarka.

On February 2, when UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi visited their house, the family expressed unhappiness over the location of the accommodation the government planned to provide.

"We were told the flat was on the outskirts of the city, far from our current residence, somewhere in Bawana. My mother told Soniaji that we want to stay somewhere closer, so Soniaji told us we will be getting a flat, possibly in Dwarka," the brother said.

The family had also urged Sonia to ensure swift justice in the case. The trial has already begun in a fast-track court in Saket but the media has been restrained from reporting proceedings in the case. Five men have been charged with rape and murder of the 23-year-old. The sixth accused is a juvenile who is facing proceedings before the Juvenile Justice Board.

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