Hunger strike to demand restrictions on acid sale

Members of the Stop Acid Attack campaign and several acid attack survivors today started a Hunger Strike at Jantar Mantar demanding the implementation of the Supreme Court Guidelines to regulate the sale of acid at shops here.
"The Supreme Court had issued guidelines to regulate the counter sale of acids at shops. But the guidelines have not been implemented. It is being sold at shops without any constraint," said Ashish Shukla, member of Chaanv and Stop Acid Attack Campaign.
Along with this, the SC had also ordered the Central and State Government to give a compensation of 3 lakh rupees to the victims for rehabilitation. However this has not been provided and neither the elementary treatment is being provided by the Centre, he added.

The protestors demanded the setting up of fast track courts for the quick trial of the cases related to acid attack. They also demanded the setting up of a High Level Committee to probe the cases related to acid attack.
"We want that a fast track court be set up for the speedy trial of the cases and the police should file the charge sheet within 15 days of the crime just like Bangladesh. The cases have been pending for a long time and so we would demand that a High Level Committee be set up to probe these cases," said Alok Dixit, a member of the Stop Acid Attack Campaign.

The survivors have been working hard by collecting donations from various fronts for their rehabilitation including the opening of a new cafe and boutique for the acid attack survivors.

"The SC had ordered to give compensation to the victims which has still not been given. In accordance we also demand assistance from the government and provide them rehabilitation and jobs in the government," said Shukla.
The protestors allege that the official data that the government has given is not accurate and demanded the revealing of exact number of cases.
"According to the data provided by the government only 60 cases of acid attack have happened but our own survey says that there are more than 200 cases registered with the police and the media has also reported about it," said Dixit.

Among the protestors included various acid attack survivors and members of the Asmita Theatre who performed a Nukkad Natak to protest against the violence against women.
The issue has been also raked up in the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament and a discussion was held for the passing of the Acid Control Bill 2014. The Supreme Court, in an order issued in September 2013 ordered the central and state governments to regulate the sale of acid and also provide a compensation of Rs three lakh to the acid attack survivors.