Acid Attacks in India
According to an universal definition acid attack is a vitriol attack of throwing acid or similar form of corrosive substance on the body of another person with intentions of damage, defame, deform or kill.
Most of the time acid is thrown on the face with intentions to damage face ( mostly by the people who claimed to love you the most). Sulfuric acid and the nitric acids are widely, because their intensity is high.
The impact of these attack is obviously physical like permanent damage of skin, tissue and sometimes bones. But these attacks have social, psychological and economic impacts as well. Acid attacks have been reported all over the world but Bangladesh is the most affected country. Highest concentration of acid attacks is in South Asian region.
Medical Effects:
- Hair Loss
- Destruction of Ear Cartilage and Deafness in some cases
- Damage of Eyelids and Permanent Blindness in some cases
- Deformation of Nose, and in some cases nostrils are closed due to damage of Cartilage
- Leaps may be partially of fully destroyed causing difficulty in eating and speaking. Sometimes movement of mouth may be stopped
- Neck motion may be hampered
Psychological Impact:
- Higher level of anxiety
- Depression
- Lowered self esteem
- Increased self consciousness
Social Impact:
- In some cases victim may be dependent on others for eating or expressing
- Not able to find suitable jobs due to loss of vision or being handicapped or in some case due to some stigma.
- Economic hardship
- Divorce
- Social rejection
Scenario in Different Countries:
- In countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait victims are psychologically tortured. Media does not cover these attacks. If covers than blames the women victims, being sympathetic to man who commits attack.
- In Uganda women are abandoned by their husbands after attack in 25% of cases
- In Bangladesh, number of cases have been reduced due to legal reforms by government and efforts by NGOs.
Many NGOs are working in the field for providing Legal, Medical, Psychological and Economic assistance to the victims. Some of the prominent NGOs are Acid Survivors Foundation (Bangladesh), Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity(Cambodia), Acid Survivors Trust International(Asia and Africa) and the Palash Foundation (India).
Indian Scenario:
- 72% of the cases reported involved women.
- From year 2000 to 2010 more than 330 cases have been reported, but this is underestimated because many of the cases are not reported.
- Reasons in India are: Rejection of marriage or sexual relationship, Dowry and personal rivalry.
Supreme Court's Guidelines in 2013:
- Court directed States and UTs to categories acid as Poison and issue license to retailers selling acids.
- Anyone under the age of 18 will not be sold acid
- Anyone purchasing acid will have to submit his/her photo identity card to retailer. Retailer will maintain a register with information regarding quantity available and sold and persons who purchased acid. Retailer will provide this information to the nearest police station. Failure to do so will lead to confiscation of stocks and fine up to 50000 rupees.
Supreme Court's Guidelines on 11 April 2015:
- Court asked Private Hospitals to provide free treatment including free medicines and corrective surgeries to acid attack victims.
- Private hospitals to make sure that victims are attended immediately and adequately.
- Private hospitals to issue certificates to such people endorsing them as acid attack victims. The certificate will be used for future benefits.
- Court asked states and UTs to give 3 lakh rupees to acid attack victims as financial help
- Court asked states and UTs to notify acid as scheduled substance to stop its unregulated sale.
Everything is possible if we have the political will.
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Sources for this post: NLRD, Indian express, The Hindu, Wikipedia, The Times of India, PIB, DD .
+UNESCO +HelpAge International +Amnesty International
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