Good News For Acid Survivors in India

Awareness of Acid Attack on Women in India

We have been working on Acid attack on women in India for last few months and seek your cooperation while working on this generally neglected topic in Indian scenario. We have written to Indian Women Welfare Foundation, National Commission for Women, Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Women & Child Development, AIDWA to notice the gravity of the subject.

We are little contented that in the response to our desperate efforts to bring a specific law to address the acid attack victims and punishing the accused for the heinous crime, the government of India is considering to bring an amendment in Section 326 in order to punish those who are found guilty of throwing acid on women and girls and causing grievous hurt to them. The accused may have to spend the rest of their lives in jail and pay Rs 10 lakh compensation to the victims. A six-member expert group set up by the government to examine the issue has recommended changes in the existing law to classify acid attacks as a separate offence in the Indian Penal Code (IPC).The draft Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill prepared by a group of secretaries headed by home secretary GK Pillai has recommended a jail term from 10 years to a maximum of life imprisonment for those found guilty of acid attacks. The group has also proposed a Rs 10 lakh fine on the guilty, which would have to paid to the victim as compensation. The proposed clause A to 326 would prescribe the punishment for the intentional act of throwing acid to cause burns, disfiguring of the body and disabling any part of the body.

The concerned activity may have kindled a ray of hope to us but we still have lot to say over this under consideration move by the government. We have some straight forward issues which we want government to implement while forming the law against acid attacks. Firstly the ten years of imprisonment to the accused is not justified on the grounds of justice as the some of the victims loose their lives whereas some loose the vital body parts such as eyes and most of them suffer from permanent physical disfigurement. The victim is not only injured on physical basis but also on the emotional, psychological and social front. The losses to the victim can’t be resurrected and cripple the sufferer. Such heinous crime must be dealt with death penalty or life time imprisonment .Secondly the amount of 10 lakh may appear big on paper but is literally very less when it comes to the post injury treatment .To quote an example Arti Srivastav who was attacked on Jan 27, 2000 in Kanpur has undergone 4 surgeries till now and has spent nearly 15 lakhs on her treatment .She still needs four to five surgeries. Even after those surgeries total restoration is almost impossible. Therefore much more is needed for them. There is also a perspective to it that some of the accused may have poor financial background and may not provide any money to the victim at all. Thirdly government must take charge of it to uplift the status of acid attack victims by providing these socially ousted individuals with rehabilitation including jobs to support themselves.

Therefore we appeal government and the society to notice our concerns and cooperate these hapless and hopeless acid attack victims.

Regards

Alok Dixit & Saumya Verma

(Team Members working on ‘Acid attack on Women in India’)