Acid attacks: Living with the scars

On Wednesday, something horrendous happened in Dwarka in the national capital, Delhi. Two miscreants on a bike threw acid on a 17-year-old schoolgirl causing her injuries on the face and eyes.

There are reports that some of the attackers have been nabbed with the shocking incident which was caught on camera, arousing nationwide indignation. The girl is in hospital with the cops trying to ascertain the exact reason for the attack.

Why do acid attacks keep happening in India, which reports say, sees a high number of such attacks every year? They could be because of relationships going awry, refusal to give in to sexual advances, personal enmity and other issues.

Whatever may be the reason, the consequences of such attacks are ghastly: the victims suffer permanent damage to the skin, soft tissue and even the bones and eyes. There is inevitably disfigurement of the body with the never-ending cosmetic surgeries, turning out to be a hugely costly affair while regaining a flawless appearance often proves to be a colossal task.

Unemployment, social ostracism and dependency on one’s kith and kin for life are natural consequences and so is blindness in some cases. Surveys say that the majority of such victims are in the age group of 18 to 22 years which makes these attacks all the more painful and unpardonable.

The fact that acids like sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid and nitric acid are freely available across shops in India despite state imposed curbs, renders the task of those out to wreck the victim’s life all the more easier. Is there any way by which the number of acid attacks can be reduced if not totally eliminated?

Awareness campaigns on gender rights and the need to treat women with dignity and fairness and not vent one’s fury on her when things do not look as rosy as they may look, seem to be the best ways to keep these vindictive acts at bay.

The gamut of human relationships is complicated and the only way to make sure they remain free from hurt and agony is to treat each other with respect without prejudice. The punishment in such cases should be exemplary and should serve as an effective deterrent against the crime for this is no ordinary assault and destroys the life of the victim permanently. And more than the stipulated compensation which the government pays in such cases, what victims look forward to is the regaining of a respectable foothold in society though it would be naive to expect the scars to heal in totality.

The government no doubt has been considerate enough to provide reservation for such victims with disfigurement, in jobs but they obviously need a lot more to lead a normal life. Society on the whole will have to be broad-hearted enough to accept these ill-fated individuals into its fold and make sure they live a full life like any other citizen and are not discriminated against at any cost.

They could be taught useful modes of earning a livelihood if a government job is not available easily so that they can stand on their own feet rather than look to the family for support. And most of all, what victims of acid attacks need is empathy for even if the physical injuries may heal over a period of time, the mental scars do not.

This coupled with strict policing and awareness campaigns in states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Delhi which are the worst affected by the malaise, will help in bringing down acid attack cases.