Acid attacks on girls and women across the country have come down following the strict law enacted three years ago when CPN-UML leader KP Oli was the prime minister. First, an ordinance was introduced to this effect, and then it was converted into law with a harsh jail sentence of up to eight years and a provision of Rs 5 lakh in compensation to the acid attack victim(s) from the perpetrator(s). The government had to introduce the ordinance after a series of acid attacks came to light in various parts of the country, mainly against the girls and women from their acquaintances to take revenge for their refusal on advances, marriage or for other reasons such as land or financial disputes. As many as 20 cases of acid attacks on girls and women were reported before the ordinance was enacted into law. The ordinance on acid attack had proposed a 20-year jail sentence along with a fine of Rs 1 million against the perpetrator(s) for causing serious and permanent damage to the body parts of the victims, but the federal parliament reduced the quantum of punishment to 5-8 years in jail and a fine of Rs 1-5 lakhs, depending on the severity of the injury caused, when it was converted into law. Rights activists had been lobbying for harsher punishment against acid and other harmful chemical attackers.
Despite the fact that the law has been enforced, many acid attack victims still go through mental andphysical trauma when it comes to getting free medical treatment from government hospitals.
Acid attack victims, including Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Bindbasini Kansakar, met former prime minister Oli the other day, drawing his attention to the hassles that they often face in the hospitals and in their dai-ly life. They complained that they still faced procedural barriers while seeking medicines (especially gel or cream) that they need to use everyday. They are required to fill up multiple types of forms. The acid attack victims need to use the cream multiple times everyday to stay safe from infection and to stop the wound from getting worse. The acid attack victims also drew Oli's attention to the same facility for the burn victims.
Enacting a law is not enough. Raising public awareness about the dangers of acid and other harmful chemicals that they pose to humans, and the legal punishment against the acid attackers is the most important thing. Although the law has banned the free sale or distribution of acidic substances, retailers are still found selling them without keeping personal records of the buyers. Therefore, the retailers should keep records of those who buy them. Why do the government hospitals require the acid attack victims to fill up multiple types of forms every time? An identity card issued to the acid attack victims by the concerned government agency should suffice to get the needed gel, cream or other drugs needed for them.
Such medicines should be provided to the victims from all the government hospitals and health centres in a hassle-free manner. At the same time, the Bir Hospital and Kirtipur-based hospital, both of which are specialised ones in dealing with acid or burn-related injuries, should be strengthened so that the victims get standard services from there.
An identity card issued to the acid attack victim(s) would suffice to get free medicines from govt hospitals
KMC's programmes
Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has unveiled 71 programmes that it intends to carry out during the current fiscal year. This is Mayor Balen Shah's second year in office after being elected, and going by his past performances, one can expect the programmes to be successfully accomplished. The programmes to be carried out immediately include vehicle parking management in the city areas, operation of digital services, sterilisation of dogs, regular repair and maintenance of structures such as pavements and construction of public toilets. Of these, controlling the canine population is important. It must be borne in mind that the stray dog population has been increasing in the Kathmandu Valley, posing a threat to the safety of its inhabitants.
In the past, stray dogs were destroyed annually by the municipality, but due to the intervention of animal rights groups, this had stopped. Sterilisation of dogs is the best way forward, but there has to be continuity if their numbers are to drop and eventually disappear. The KMC is also said to have developed a prototype of public toilets and instructed the wards to construct them accordingly. This will go a long way in keeping the city neat and clean.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 13, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
