How to Prevent Acid Attacks: Government Policy and Public Awareness

Acid attacks are among the most deliberate and devastating forms of violence. A survivor doesn’t just carry physical scars – they often lose their sight, their livelihood, and their place in society. Around 72% of acid attack victims are women, and in nearly 78% of cases, the trigger is the rejection of a marriage proposal or sexual advances – a grim indicator of how patriarchy and unchecked male ego translate into violence. Prevention is not a single-track effort. It demands coordinated action across law, education, media, civil society, and the corporate world.

Government policies and legal reforms 🔗

The most direct line of defense against acid attacks is the law. Before 2013, there were no specific provisions in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) addressing acid violence. Perpetrators were tried under general sections for grievous hurt, which was grossly inadequate given the lifelong consequences for survivors. This changed with the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, which inserted Sections 326A and 326B into the IPC, making acid attacks a distinct criminal offence punishable with a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment, extendable to life.

Regulation of acid sales 🔗

Controlling who can buy acid is one of the most effective preventive steps. Following a Supreme Court directive in 2013, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued the Model Poisons Possession and Sale Rules, which prohibit over-the-counter acid sales without a government-issued photo ID. Buyers must be over 18, and sellers are required to maintain a logbook recording the buyer’s details, the quantity sold, and the purpose. Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) in each district are responsible for monitoring compliance, and undeclared stocks of acid are subject to confiscation and fines of up to ₹50,000.

The landmark Laxmi v. Union of India case was a turning point. Laxmi Agarwal, who was attacked at 15 for rejecting a man’s advances, filed a public interest litigation that led to sweeping court directives – mandating complete regulation of acid sales, free treatment for survivors in both government and private hospitals, and mandatory compensation of at least ₹3 lakh. Despite these directions, enforcement has been uneven. As one Supreme Court bench noted in the Parivartan Kendra v. Union of India case, acid continues to be sold openly in parts of the country.

Fast-track courts and compensation 🔗

Speed of justice matters enormously in deterrence. Prolonged trials – like the 16-year legal battle in the Shaheen Malik case – actively discourage survivors from pursuing cases. Establishing fast-track courts exclusively for acid attack cases, with mandatory gender-sensitisation training for judges and public prosecutors, is critical to improving conviction rates and sending a clear message of deterrence. Alongside this, Section 357C of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) mandates that state-run compensation supplements the fine paid by the accused, ensuring survivors receive financial support regardless of delays in criminal proceedings.

Public awareness and educational measures 🔗

Laws alone cannot change attitudes. The root causes of acid attacks – entitlement, rejection-fuelled rage, and the belief that a woman’s refusal is an insult to be punished – are social and psychological. Addressing them requires sustained educational intervention, starting young.

Gender equality in schools 🔗

Educational institutions have a critical role to play by incorporating programs on gender equality, consent, and respectful relationships into their curricula. Young people need structured spaces to understand that rejection is a normal part of social life and that another person’s choice – whether in friendship, romance, or marriage – must be accepted without retaliation. The government, in collaboration with NGOs, has initiated various campaigns and awareness programs to sensitize people about the gravity of acid attacks and the need to prevent them, but school-level integration of these values remains limited.

Youth counselling and emotional management 🔗

Youth counselling is a particularly underutilised preventive tool. Many perpetrators of acid attacks are young men who conflate romantic rejection with personal humiliation. Counselling programs that teach emotional regulation, healthy coping strategies, and respect for others’ autonomy can interrupt this dangerous pattern before it escalates to violence. Schools, colleges, and community centers should be equipped with trained counsellors who can address misguided ideas about love, masculinity, and control.

The role of media and community 🔗

Media as a tool for attitude change 🔗

Media – both mainstream and digital – has the power to shape public perception significantly. Films like Chhapaak brought acid violence into living rooms across India, sparking conversations that policy documents rarely reach. Survivor testimonials, when presented with sensitivity and respect, challenge the stigma that pushes survivors into isolation. Media campaigns that advocate for stricter law enforcement and highlight the human cost of acid violence can shift public opinion in ways that complement legislative reform. Responsible reporting – focusing on the survivor’s resilience rather than just the graphic nature of their injuries – matters enormously.

Community vigilance and support networks 🔗

At the local level, community watch groups and neighbourhood support networks serve a dual purpose: they provide early warning systems against potential threats and offer survivors a sense of solidarity and belonging. Community involvement also creates social pressure on authorities to implement existing laws effectively. When communities treat acid attacks as a collective concern rather than a private family matter, it reduces the isolation that survivors often experience and increases the likelihood that cases are reported and followed through.

Corporate responsibility and NGO advocacy 🔗

What companies that produce or sell acid must do 🔗

Businesses that manufacture or distribute acids carry a direct responsibility in prevention. Secure storage, proper employee training on safe handling, and strict documentation of supply chains are non-negotiable standards. Irresponsible sale – letting acid pass to buyers without ID checks or records – makes these businesses complicit in the violence that follows. Through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, companies can also fund awareness campaigns and support survivor rehabilitation programs – as seen in Lumina Datamatics’ partnership with The Laxmi Foundation to support educational initiatives for acid attack survivors and their children.

The irreplaceable role of NGOs 🔗

Organizations like Chhanv Foundation, Stop Acid Attacks, and Meer Foundation work directly with survivors on medical aid, legal assistance, vocational training, and psychological counselling. They operate as the bridge between survivors and formal support systems – often stepping in where the state falls short. NGOs also bring grassroots experience that shapes better policy. Their advocacy has led to crucial legal precedents and forced implementation gaps into the public conversation. Civil society organisations in India have been instrumental in pushing for legislative reforms and ensuring that survivor voices are heard at every stage of policy development.

Provisions under the RPWD Act 2016 🔗

One of the most significant legal milestones for acid attack survivors in India was their inclusion in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, which expanded the list of recognized disabilities from 7 to 21 categories. Acid attack survivors are now formally defined under the Act as persons “disfigured due to violent assaults by throwing of acid or similar corrosive substance.” This recognition is not merely symbolic – it unlocks a range of legal entitlements that were previously inaccessible to them.

Key entitlements under the RPWD Act 🔗

The Act mandates free medical treatment for acid attack survivors in both public and private hospitals, covering reconstructive surgeries as part of standard medical care. On the question of compensation, the Supreme Court directed a minimum compensation of ₹3 lakh for acid attack victims, with state governments required to supplement fines paid by the convicted. The Act also provides for reservation in government employment for persons with benchmark disabilities – a provision that directly supports the economic independence and social reintegration of survivors. Additional benefits include reservations in higher education and poverty alleviation schemes, giving survivors structured pathways to rebuild their lives with dignity.

Why recognition matters beyond the law 🔗

The RPWD Act 2016 came into effect on April 19, 2017, and represents India’s commitment to aligning with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). For acid attack survivors, being recognized as persons with disabilities shifts the framing from charity to rights. It places the burden of accommodation and inclusion on the state and institutions, rather than on the survivor to “overcome” their condition on their own. However, as the Supreme Court itself has noted in recent cases, implementation across states remains patchy, and continued monitoring is essential to translate legal guarantees into lived reality.

Bangladesh’s prevention model: a lesson worth learning 🔗

India is not the only country grappling with this issue, and there are proven models to draw from. Bangladesh drastically reduced acid attacks from 494 cases to just 13 by 2024, through a combination of sealing illegal acid-selling outlets within 30 days of identification, sustained public awareness campaigns, and dedicated legal reform – a model that has been in place since 2002. India can replicate this multi-pronged approach by combining strict retail regulation, community awareness, and fast judicial response into a coherent national strategy.

What do you think? If legal provisions like the RPWD Act 2016 and the Criminal Law Amendment Act 2013 already exist, why do acid attacks continue to rise in parts of India – and whose responsibility is it to close the gap between law on paper and justice on the ground? And given that prevention requires action from schools, communities, companies, and courts simultaneously, which of these do you think holds the most untapped potential in India today?

References

1. https://www.newsclick.in/Why-India-Stringent-New-Laws-Have-Not-Reduced-Acid-Attacks
2. https://www.mha.gov.in/en/commoncontent/compensation-acid-attack-victims
3. https://lawbhoomi.com/acid-attacks-related-laws-in-india/
4. https://www.juscorpus.com/acid-attack-victims-in-the-disability-list-a-new-dawn-of-opportunities-with-the-rpwd-act2016/
5. https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/acid-attacks-in-india-1
6. https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-16519-acid-attack-laws-in-india-an-analysis-of-legal-frameworks-and-their-effectiveness-in-combating-acid-violence.html
7. https://www.csrtimes.org/lumina-datamatics-partners-with-the-laxmi-foundation-to-empower-acid-attack-survivors-in-india/
8. https://csrbox.org/Impact/description/Article_full_NGOs-That-are-Rehabilitating-and-Empowering-Acid-Attack-Survivors-in-India-_58
9. https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-196-the-most-grievous-assault-acid-attack-is-common-in-india-why.html
10. https://www.pib.gov.in/newsite/printrelease.aspx?relid=155592
11. https://www.disabilityrightsindia.com/2017/04/what-21-disabilities-covered-in-rights.html