Mumbai, Sep 11 (IANS): The Maharashtra government will launch a scheme starting Oct 2 to provide financial, medical and other aid to victims of sexual violence and acid attacks, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said Wednesday.

"Under the 'Manodhairya Scheme', the state will extend financial assistance of Rs.200,000 to women and child victims of rape or sexual assault. The amount will be Rs.300,000 in severe cases," Chavan told reporters here.

Similarly, for women who are targets of acid attacks and suffer permanent or grievous disfigurement, the government will provide Rs.300,000; and Rs.50,000 to those injured, he said.

Besides financial assistance, the government will provide victims and their families accommodation, counselling, legal and medical aid as well as educational and vocational training.

In addition, the authorities would extend an immediate aid of Rs.50,000 for medical aid, travel and other urgent requirements.

This year, Maharashtra has been rocked by two brutal incidents of acid attack and gang-rape.

In May, a New Delhi nurse, Preeti Rathi, was attacked with acid at Bandra Terminus as she travelled to Mumbai to take up a job offer. The nurse, in her early 20s, succumbed to injuries.

In August, a woman photo-journalist was gang-raped by five men in a deserted mill complex in central Mumbai.