Compensation for acid attack victims hiked

Minister for Women and Child Development Umashree on Friday said the State government had increased the cash compensation for acid attack victims from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh. The compensation would be given under the Suraksha scheme of the government.

The amount had been hiked following the Supreme Court directions to the State governments, she said in a press release.

The Karnataka State Commission for Women (KSCW) stated that acid attack victims (children and women) would get cash compensation of Rs. 3 lakh, irrespective of the percentage of burns sustained in the incident.

Karnataka recorded 111 incidents of acid attack between 2003–04 and 2012–13 and government had paid total cash compensation of Rs. 92.21 lakh.

Sources in the government said a decision had been taken to modify rules of the Karnataka Poisons (Possession and Sale) Rules 2015 under the Poisons Act, 1919, a Central legislation, to regulate the sale of acid and other corrosive substances framed under the Poisons Act.

Draft rules

The State government had received no objections when it published the draft rules to regulate the sale and storage of acid and other substances. The rules which have been approved by the Revenue Minister and the Chief Secretary, would come into force once the Chief Minister clears them, sources said.