Delhi gang rape victim becomes first private citizen being treated abroad at state expense

NEW DELHI: The Delhi gangrape victim has already set a record - she has become the first Indian private citizen to have been taken abroad for medical care at the expense of the state.

Asked if there has been any precedents, a senior Union minister and a former cabinet secretary said they were unable to recall any such previous instance.

Government and political leaders, also army officers have been given this help, but not a private citizen, they said.

Former prime ministers Chandrashekhar and V P Singh had been treated abroad at government expense. Besides, veteran leader Jay Prakash Narayan was airlifted for treatment within the country (from Patna to Mumbai) at government's expense.

Narayan was private individual as he did not hold any public post at that time, but was a national political figure.

About the decision to take the gang rape victim abroad, the home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said, "We are all aware of the critical condition of victim.

Since the day of the incident, it has been our endeavour to provide her the best of medical care. Despite the best efforts of our doctors, the victim continued to be critical and her fluctuating health remained a big cause of concern to all of us.

Therefore, when we were advised by a team of doctors that she may be shifted abroad for treatment, the government decided to meet all the costs thereof."

Updating her condition, he said, "Arrangements have been made for the family to accompany her as the treatment may stretch to many weeks." Shinde also said that the government had opted for Singapore considering her critical condition and the relatively short travel time.