National Commission for Women holds all India meet on acid attack

23 Nodal Officers and delegates from states all over India attended the “All India Nodal Officers Meeting on Acid Attack” on Wednesday, which was organized by the national commission for women (NCW).

Rekha Sharma, chairperson of the NCW, presided over the meeting and emphasized the necessity of ending the unrestricted sale of acid and other corrosive substances as well as the necessity of providing victims of acid attacks with the necessary rehabilitation.

The NCW chairperson was quoted in a government press release as saying, “Despite the Supreme Court’s ban, the truth is that acid nevertheless remains available for sale. To prevent the unrestrained selling of acid, tight regulations must be maintained. If a society doesn’t take measures to prevent crime, it cannot be deemed civilized.

One of the suggestions made at the discussion was to launch a broad campaign to educate people about gender sensitivity at colleges and universities, among law enforcement, and in other institutions. The organization also advocated compensating victims of attacks with gasoline and diesel in a manner similar to how victims of attacks with acids are compensated. The panel also recommended creating a corpus fund for acid attack survivors through corporate social responsibility, giving financial support to private institutions so that they can provide free medical care for victims of acid attacks, and giving survivors preference in government positions.

National Commission for Women

A broad effort to inform people about gender sensitivity should be launched at colleges and universities, among law enforcement, and in other institutions, was one idea offered during the meeting. In a similar way to how victims of assaults with acids are rewarded, the organization likewise favored rewarding victims of attacks with gasoline and diesel. The panel also suggested providing survivors preference in government positions, funding private institutions so they may offer free medical care for victims of acid attacks, and creating a corpus fund for acid attack survivors through corporate social responsibility.

In 2013, the Supreme Court issued a ruling regulating the sale of caustic substances after taking notice of acid attacks.

Based on the directive, the MHA created the Model Poisons Possession and Sale Rules, 2013 under the Poisons Act, 1919, which asked states to create their own regulations based on the model regulations since the subject was within their domain.

The MHA’s guidelines and the model rules state that over-the-counter sales of acid are prohibited unless the seller keeps a thorough logbook or register documenting those sales.

Additionally, sellers must notify the concerned sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of all acid stock within 15 days and in the event of unreported acid stock.

For a violation of any of the orders, the SDM has the authority to seize the stock and, if necessary, impose a fine of up to 50,000.

MHA again advised all States and UTs to review and make sure that the retail sale of acids and chemicals is strictly regulated in accordance with the Poison Rules so that these are not utilized in crime in August of last year.