WCD min taking steps for free treatment of acid attack victims

"I have written a letter to the Health Ministry in which I have requested that they make provisions so that complete treatment of acid attack victims is offered free of cost," WCD Minister Krishna Tirath told reporters today.

She said the Health Ministry was exploring how her suggestion to assist acid attack victims can be implemented.

When it was pointed out to Tirath that medical expenses for acid victims was high as the treatment often included plastic surgery, she said, "Even if this treatment is expensive, it still should be done. After all how many such cases will there be in a state."

She also said that her ministry's proposal to set up a four digit number which would serve as a women's helpline across the country had been approved by the Planning Commission.

"The Planning Commission has approved the proposal. We will now have to plan in detail because a women's helpline would have to deal with multiple issues like domestic violence, trafficking and many other aspects," Tirath said.

She said while helplines for women were functioning in some states, her ministry's plan was to have a uniform number for the entire country the way 1098 is the child helpline across India.