Scroll Top

ACID ATTACK VICTIMS IN THE DISABILITY LIST: A NEW DAWN OF OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE RPWD ACT,2016.

Acid victims are now one of the 21 disabilities that are recognized by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, from now on referred to as (RPwD Act), which is ground

ACID ATTACK

INTRODUCTION

Acid victims are now one of the 21 disabilities that are recognized by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, from now on referred to as (RPwD Act), which is ground groundbreaking move and revolutionary that marks significant progress from the Persons with disabilities act 1995.[1] Which did not include them. This has opened a lot of opportunities to acid victims who are often mistreated, face discrimination, and also have immense traumatic experiences because of the incident. In this way, it would help them to achieve their dreams rather than stopping themselves and confining themselves to their homes because of social stigma. The RPwD Act has empowered the victims to obtain disability certificate, which will grant them access a reservation for employment in government sector jobs and also other entitlements mentioned in the chapters VI and VII of the Act, provide for education, social security, health care, and skill development, By officially defining acid attack victims as individuals with disabilities, the RPwD Act, 2016, not only recognises their special difficulties but also opens the door for their social and economic integration, empowering them to restart their lives with hope and dignity.

RPwD ACT

The RPwD Act was formed because India adopted the UNCRPD, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in 2006. It is considered necessary to implement the convention. The RPwD Act 2016 replaced the Persons with Disabilities Act,1995. The Rights of Persons with disabilities RPwD Act,2016, is a progressive and inclusive piece of legislation that broadens the scope of disability from  7 to 21 categories, including acid attack survivors. Thus, inclusion is not merely symbolic; it reflects the legal and moral commitment of India as a country to protect and uplift individuals who have been subjected to heinous acts of violence and trauma. [2]

THE REALITY OF ACID ATTACK VICTIMS

The social stigma that acid attack survivors in India have to face only accentuates their discrimination due to the presence of structural violence and patronising gender norms. Acid attack survivors are mostly women who get punished for exercising their choice in matters like refusing a marriage proposal, going to school, or leaving an abusive partner. Indeed, in many instances, survivors become homebound with parental or nurse-like care while society refuses to come to terms with their presence in public for shame of their appearance, considering them to be ‘defective.’ The stigma of being abused is put forth on many of these survivors. Some are openly stared at and laughed at with pity, while many also cover their faces with veils or face coverings to hide the scars. At work, these survivors are laid off after outright rejection or are questioned by others because of being an outsider. Employers may refuse to employ them solely because they are repulsed by their appearance. Pressure from marriage and family weighs heavily on the trauma existing after an acid attack. Survivors are often forsaken by their spouses or withheld by the families who refuse to face or are ashamed of their loved one’s disfigurement. Over time, this rejection might get internalised. Survivors often start to realise how society sees them, which makes them shy away from learning new bonds or pushing their potential. [3]They burned my face, but not my voice”, said Laxmi Agarwal, speaking at the UN Women’s summit. Laxmi is an inspiration for many. She fought for the acid victims and wanted to get justice for all the victims. Acid attack victims are now included in RPwD because of Laxmi, as she filed a written petition for it in 2006.[4]

LANDMARK CASE

Laxmi v. Union of India[5]

In the Laxmi v Union of India, the Supreme Court of India responded to public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Laxmi, an acid attack survivor, seeking stricter regulations on the sale of acid and better rehabilitation for victims. The courts issued several landmark directions

  • Complete regulation and monitoring of acid sales across the country.
  • Mandatory compensation of at least ₹3 lakhs to acid attack victims.
  • Free treatment for victims in both government and private hospitals.
  • Provision of aftercare, including reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation, and legal aid.[6]

This case was crucial in sensitizing the judiciary and public institutions to the plight of acid attack survivors and directly influenced later legislative reforms, including their recognition as persons with disabilities under the RPwD Act.

PROVISIONS AND ENTITLEMENTS FOR ACID ATTACK VICTIMS UNDER RPWD ACT.

  • Reservation in employment

Under chapter VI, section 34, the act mandates a 4 per cent reservation in government jobs for persons with benchmark disabilities, acid victims qualify under this bracket, giving them fairer access to livelihood opportunities.

  • Right to education

Under chapter III, section 16, Educational institutions funded or recognized by the government are obligated to provide inclusive education, reasonable accommodation, and necessary support. Victims can now pursue education without discrimination or infrastructure barriers.

  • Skill development and livelihood

Under chapter VII, section 38, the act promotes vocational training, rehab, and self-employment initiatives, helping survivors reintegrate into the economy with dignity and independence.

  • Healthcare and social security

Under chapters VI & VII, section 24, Free healthcare facilities in government and private hospitals (as notified), along with schemes for rehabilitation, therapy, and legal aid, are now accessible to victims.[7]

CONCLUSION

 Inclusion of acid attack survivors under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, marks a major milestone for India’s journey for justice and equality. By officially recognizing them as persons with disabilities, the Act secures for them crucial entitlements of reservation in employment, inclusive education, healthcare, and vocational training. For now, survivors were seen as objects of pity; the Act conceptualizes them as human beings with rights, through which they can forge new paths back to life with dignity and purpose. This progress was further underscored by Laxmi v Union of India, which directed compensation alongside free treatment and regulation of stringent acid sale, thus paving the way for survivor-centric legal reform.

However, the legal framework cannot unblock the glide path of deep stigma, social rejection, and systemic barriers that survivors bear to this day. The RPwD Act goes far in providing acceptance, but it is not all-encompassing. Should we fail to tackle the deeper issues of exclusion, the Act may never reach its intended objectives and serve as but a symbol. Real change will require public institutions to be held accountable, awareness raised among officials, and most importantly, survivors themselves playing a pivotal role in the formulation of policies that affect them.

Author(s) Name: Umesh Bhumarapu (Dsnlu (Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University))

 References:

[1] The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016

[2] National Human Rights Commission, Disability Rights(Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and National Trust Act)And Mental Health Care Act(research division, NHRC 2021), https://nhrc.nic.in/sites/default/files/DisabilityRights.pdf accessed 24 June 2025.

[3] Fair planet,’ India: despite ban on acid sales, acid attacks continue to rise’(Fair planet,2022) https://www.fairplanet.org/story/a-national-epidemic-indian-acid-attack-survivors-speak-out/ accessed 26 June 2025.

[4] Kabir Singh Bhandari,’ I was different, I chose not to cover my face, says acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal. (Hindustan Times, 5 February 2018) https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/i-was-different-i-chose-not-to-cover-my-face-says-acid-attack-survivor-laxmi-agarwal/story-4UGDrYvTGxo4z6uWem3rRK.html accessed 26 June 2025

[5] Laxmi v Union Of India [2014] 4 SCC 427

[6] Laxmi v Union of India [2014] 4 SCC 427

[7] The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, s 16,24,34,38

logo juscorpus wo
Submit your post here:
thejuscorpus@gmail(dot)com
Ads/campaign query:
Phone: +91 950 678 8976
Email: support@juscorpus(dot)com
Working Hours:

Mon-Fri: 10:00 – 17:30 Hrs

Latest posts
Newsletter

Subscribe newsletter to stay up to date about latest opportunities and news.