Lok Sabha Question No. 415 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-04
Subject: Incidents of Acid Attacks
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: DNV Senthilkumar. S., Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Supriya Sadanand Sule, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 415

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2020/ MAGHA 15, 1941 (SAKA)

## INCIDENTS OF ACID ATTACKS

## 415.    DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.:

SHRI SHRINIWAS PATIL:

SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  current  system  to  prevent  the  incidents  of  acid attack  on  women is  inefficient  and  as  a  result,  the  Government has  not  been  able  to  achieve  targeted  success  in  checking  the said  incidents  and  if  so,  the  corrective  steps  taken  by  the Government in this regard;
- (b) the number of acid attack victims that have been provided free medical  treatment  by  the  Government  and  private  hospitals  as mandated  by  Section  166B  of  the  Indian  Penal  Code,  hospitalwise;
- (c)  whether cases of violation of the said Section have come to the notice of the Government since insertion of this Section and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken against such violators;
- (d) whether the Government has provided employment in Government institutions/department to acid attack survivors;
- (e)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  number  of  cases  of discrimination  related  to  work/salary  registered  by  acid  attack survivors during each of the last three years and the steps taken by the Government for their redressal;

- (f)  whether the Government has set up rehabilitation centres for acid  attack  victims,  if  so,  the  total  number  of  rehabilitation centres functioning to help such victims and the steps taken to increase  the  number  of  rehabilitation  centres  in  the  country, State-wise; and
- (g)  the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  enforce  strict regulation  for  the  sale  of  acid  to  prevent  acid  attacks  in  the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a): 'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under  the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibilities to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens  rest  with  the  respective  State  Governments.  The  State Governments are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws.

However, the Ministry of Home  Affairs has issued a comprehensive  Advisory  on  20 th April  2015  on  taking  steps  to implement the provisions  of  Indian  Penal  Code  (IPC),  expediting cases of Acid Attack, and to provide treatment and compensation to victims. This advisory is available on www.mha.gov.in. Ministry of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  has  also  issued  an  advisory  dated 20 th May,  2015  stating  that  no  acid  attack  victim  will  be  denied treatment by any hospital, public or private.

(b) to (e): No such data is maintained centrally.

(f): The Government of India is implementing 'One Stop Centre (OSC)' and ''Universalisation of Women Helpline (WHL)' schemes. OSC aims to facilitate women affected by violence with a range of integrated services under one roof such as police facilitation, medical aid, providing legal aid and legal counselling, psycho-social counselling, temporary  shelter  etc.  ''Universalisation  of  Women  Helpline' scheme through the short code 181 provides 24 hours emergency and non-emergency response to women affected by violence, both in  public  and  private  spaces  by  linking  them  with  appropriate authorities  such  as  Police,  One  Stop  Centre,  Hospital,  Legal Services etc. WHL also supports women in distress with rescue van and counselling services in addition to providing information about women welfare schemes and programs across the country. Further,  the  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  is  also administering Swadhar Greh Scheme for relief and rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances, including the victims of acid attack.

(g): The  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  circulated  the  Model Poison Rules on 30 th  Aug 2013 to all States/UTs for notifying the same to regulate the sale of acid in respective State/UT. Details of this advisory is available at www.mha.gov.in.

As per Section 166B of IPC (read with Section 357C of Code of  Criminal  Procedure  (Cr.  P.C.)),  no  acid  attack  victim  will  be denied  treatment  by  any  hospital,  public  or  private,  under  any pretext  and  erring  hospital/  clinic    violating    the    legislative provisions  is  punishable  with imprisonment up to one year or fine or both. Section 357C of Cr. P.C. also provides that free treatment is to be provided to the acid attack victims. Section 357A of Cr. P.C. provides that compensation under Victim Compensation Scheme is to be paid to  the  victims.  Section  357B  of  Cr.P.C.  further  provides  that compensation payable under section 357A shall be in addition to the payment of fine to victim.

Further,  pursuant  to  the  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court's  order dated 11.05.2018 in the WP(C) 565/ 2012 - Nipun Saxena Vs. Union of India, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has formulated the revised scheme enhancing the compensation to be given to Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/ other crimes. The scheme also covers the cases of acid attacks. The scheme

was  circulated  by  Ministry  of  Women  &  Child  Development  on 18.05.2018 and again by Ministry of Home Affairs on 28.06.2018 to all States/UTs for compliance. In  addition, under the Prime Minister's Relief Fund Rs. One lakh as compensation is also being provided by the Prime Minister

Office to the acid attacks victim since 08-10-2016.

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