In a move aimed at rehabilitating rape victims, the Centre will send advisory to all state governments to ensure that such victims are not discriminated against in schools and colleges.

"We will soon be issuing an advisory to various state and district administration in this regard. Neither can schools/colleges refuse to give admission to victims of sexual assault nor can they discriminate against them. State and district administration will have to ensure that educational institutions follow this. Action would be taken against those failing to comply," said Prem Narain, secretary, women and child development ministry.

The move, officials said has been necessitated following numerous complaints of discrimination that rape victims face when they go back to their school/college after the incident.

In the aftermath of the December 16 gangrape incident of a 23-year-old medical student, the ministry is pushing in a big way a series of rehabilitation schemes to help rape victims that have so far been kept in cold storage.

It is firming up a proposal to support rape victims who are unwilling to live in the same locality/city after the incident.

"The ministry is proposing to provide support to rehabilitate victims of sexual assault," said a ministry official.

Besides, the ministry is also looking at providing skill development training to rape victims to make them self reliant.

The ministry has already decided to roll out a scheme from April to give R1.2 lakh to victims from economically weaker sections of society.

The ministry has also proposed to set up a National Institute of Women Affairs, which apart from undertaking gender sensitisation courses, would also do research and review various legislation related to women.