Thanks to acid attacks increasingly making headlines, and also since the manufacturing of acids cannot be obviously stopped, the state government on Tuesday pushed for an amendment to Sections 326 & 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to bring about a "Prevention Of Offences By Acids Act". This Act will provide a 10-year jail term for the accused, if convicted.
The government has said that it will make an ex-gratia payment of Rs. 1 lakh to the family of each victim in case of death, and Rs. 50,000 in case of injuries. The payment will be made through the Department of Women Development & Child Welfare.
Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy also announced a monthly pension in case the attack causes permanent disability. She said that the attacker's family must bear the costs for the treatment of the victim's burns.
The minister, along with Principal Secretary Of Home P Gautam Kumar, and Director-General Of Police (DGP) R R Girish Kumar, was attending a review meeting over the investigations of various acid attacks that have occurred in the state.