Implement stringent laws to curb acid attacks

Though the Government has promised to take quite a few welcome steps to curb acid attacks, the rising number of such incidents is proof that there's still a lot more to be done. Official estimates put the number of acid attacks country-wide at about 400 per month but civil society groups such as Acid Survivors Trust International peg it much higher, closer to 1,000 attacks a month. Either way, there's no denying that the attacks are woefully under-reported as victims fear further retribution, not to mention social ostracisation. Thankfully, the matter is now being pursued at the highest levels of Government — on Friday, in Rajya Sabha, lawmakers from across the political spectrum denounced such attacks and urged the Government to take immediate steps to curb this growing menace; prior to that, Union Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh had also spoken about the problem and promised stern action.

In December 2014, following an acid attack on a doctor in Delhi, the Union Government had come up with several suggestions to tighten the laws and also provide better assistance the victims. For example, the Government proposed that acid attacks should be brought under the ambit of heinous crimes. If this proposal is implemented in due course, then those who carry out acid attacks may be given the death sentence. The Government has also suggested that perpetrators in such cases face a minimum punishment of 10 years in prison. Additionally, it is planning to fast-track acid attack cases and resolve them within a set time-frame. Steps are also being taken to better monitor the sale of acid, ensure that victims receive immediate attention at hospitals and also assist them with long-term recovery and rehabilitation through Government jobs, for example. And that's not all. In 2013, the Supreme Court directed all States and Union Territories to frame rules regulating the sale of acid. It also ruled that an acid attack was a non-bailable offence.

If these instances can be taken as an indication of greater political will to tackle the growing menace, then there's reason to hope that law enforcement officials at the local level will also respond to the matter more seriously and effectively. As of now, there are, of course, laws that against acid attacks but the problem is that few perpetrators actually have their day in court. What makes an acid attack a particularly lethal tool is the relative ease with which it can be carried out as well as the irreversible damage that it can cause.  All one needs is a bottle of acid which can be easily bought at the local chemist's or grocer's shop, and there's almost nothing that a prospective victim can do to protect herself. No wonder, acid attacks routinely take place even in crowded markets in broad daylight! Sure, regulating the sale of acid can help control the crime to some extent but, ultimately, it is the deterrent effect that comes from seeing acid attack perpetrators behind bars that will help contain the menace.