Just recently, our country was left appalled after the news report of a 17-year-old girl attacked with acid by two bikers in Delhi went abuzz. Though the girl had sustained only 7 to 8 percent of burnt injuries yet the audacity of the boys to destroy someone else's life for fun is unjustifiable.

On investigating, it was revealed that the boys had procured acid from the online shopping platform, Flipkart and this unfortunate incident took place when there is a law for over-the-counter sale of acid in the country.

Let's take a look at the law pertaining to selling acid in our country. 

It is not allowed unless the seller maintains a register to record the sale of the acid. Everything needs to be noted down; the details of the person buying the acid (he/she should be above 18 years of age), the quantity sold and the reason for procuring acid.

All the acid stocks should be mentioned by the seller to the respective Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) within 15 days. In case of any negligence on the part of the seller, the SDM can and must confiscate the acid and impose a fine of up-to 50,000 rupees.

Under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 326A, acid attacks are punishable with an imprisonment of 10 years which can be extended to life along with a fine. Acid attack victims are paid compensation of at least 3 lakh rupees by the concerned state government as the rehabilitation cost.

But the question remains, does the victory come easy?

No; it's a long, lonely and painful battle.

"I did not see my face for three months till the surgeries were complete. My family hid the mirrors at home… I had started giving up on my life and looking in the mirror didn’t help,” said a 26-year-old survivor. 

35 surgeries and eight years later, in December 2022, the Uttarakhand High Court ordered the state to provide her with 35 lakh rupees compensation.

Special programs should be initiated by the states for the survivors so that they are able to regain the 10 core life skills that are laid down by the WHO. 

People should be made sensitized towards this issue and corporates/companies should have separate reservation programs based on the skills and knowledge of the survivors.

Life for the survivors isn't easy but what makes them warriors is the zeal and vigor with which they bounce back and continue to live life on their own terms.

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This article salutes and pays respect to the courage of all the survivors and their family members who got overpowered by the torturous burns.

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