BENGALURU: The State Government has enhanced cash compensation payable to acid/kerosene attack victims from Rs two lakh to Rs three lakh. This has been done in compliance with the Supreme Court's directives.
According to official sources, the Government issued the orders recently enhancing the compensation.
The Karnataka State Commission for Women (KSCW) had stated that acid attack victims will get cash compensation of Rs three lakh, regardless of the percentage of burns sustained.
Sources said that in Karnataka, as many as 111 incidents of acid attacks had been reported between 2003-04 and 2012-13 and the Government had paid a total compensation of over Rs 92.21 lakh.
While five incidents were reported during 2013-14 and another seven in 2014-15, over Rs 14.85 lakh had been paid through the Karnataka State Women Commission to the victims under Suraksha Scheme.
In April this year, one incident of acid attack was reported from Sringeri town where two unidentified people threw acid on a 35-year-old woman.
Sources said the State Government is all set to issue the modified Karnataka Poisons (Possession and Sale) Rules, 2015 under the Poisons Act 1919, a Central legislation, to regulate the sale of acid and other corrosive substances listed under the Act.
The State had received no objections to the draft rules on regulating the sale and storage of acid and other substances.
"The rules, which had been approved by the Revenue Minister and the Chief Secretary, will come into force once it gets clearance from the Chief Minister," a senior official told Express.
The rules, which had been finalised by the State Government, among others, include a complete ban of counter sales of acid unless the seller maintains a register recording the sale of acid, to whom it was sold and its quantity, after ascertaining the identification of the buyer, his address and the purpose for procuring acid.
It also specifies that no acid shall be sold to any person below 18 years of age, the sources added.