Lucknow: A 35-year-old acid attack survivor in UP’s Meerut was granted a compensation of Rs 1 lakh under Prime Minister National Relief Fund (PMNRF) after waiting for six years.
On November 11, 2018, Minakshi Sinha was returning home in Shatabdi Nagar area when three youths threw acid at her. She suffered 40% burn injuries on her face, neck, upper part of chest, and both arms. The ministry of home affairs finally granted compensation, in addition to the Victim Compensation Scheme. She received her cheque on December 4, 2023, with the help of NGO Brave Souls Foundation, run by Shaheen Malik, an acid attack survivor.
Malik said, “PMNRF was established to provide timely and essential financial aid to victims of heinous crimes, but failed to deliver expected support in a reasonable timeframe. Minakshi is not alone in this suffering, there are several others in different states. Compensation by PMNRF is intended to enable survivors to access medical treatments, counselling, and reintegrate into society. However, administrative laxity delays the process.”
In another case, Rachna Singh, 40, a resident of Delhi, said, “I was attacked in 2005 and received the then designated Rs 3 lakh under the acid attack compensation scheme in 2016, which is 11 years after the incident. I received PMNRF compensation of Rs 1 lakh in June 2023. I wasn’t aware such a scheme existed.”
Aiman Khan, now 25, was 16 when she suffered an acid attack in Prayagraj in 2014. “I got compensation of Rs 3 lakh the following year but PMNRF money is pending. The main reason is that government departments at the local level are not very supportive,” she said.
Significantly, as per the NCRB report recently released, 221 acid attack victims were added to the list in 2022 from across the country.
(Names of attack survivors have been changed to protect identities but Shaheen’s name has been retained)
