Fight against Acid Attacks-

A Tribute to Chanchal Paswan

She died on 22 June 2017 but before that she created history by not only fighting against injustice on her but also rewarding acid attacks all over India with much better increased compensation, free treatment of acid attack survivors in government and private hospitals free of cost, countersell of acid regulated and in different states very much improved rehabilitation policies, rules and regulation. The other acid attack survivors can now avail all this as their right. Before this the compensation in Bihar was twenty five thousand rupees which was a joke of the most grave human rights violation. Similarly all the other states in India were having similar meagre compensation for acid attack survivors. But with Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Parivartan Kendra in Supreme Court, this was changed. One of the base case of this PIL was Chanchal's case.

On October 21, 2012, four men threw acid on the face of 19 year old Chanchal Paswan and her 15 yead old sister, while they were asleep on their terrace. The attack was a direct result of Chanchal’s opposition to continuous sexual harassment by four non Dalit men in her village Chhitnawa of Maner block, Patna district, Bihar

Chanchal’s case came to the attention of Parivartan Kendra while she was admitted to Patna Medical College Hospital, facing mistreatment by hospital staff and insufficient medical care. Parivartan Kendra, organized a campaign to bring attention to Chanchal’s case and ensure justice for her. A video report documenting Chanchal’s case was produced by Varsha Jawalkgekar in conjunction with an online petition demanding justice for Chanchal.

In March of 2013, a press conference organized by Parivartan Kendra was attended by over 40 local and national media organizations. Chanchal’s story was reported in a number of national publications and broadcast on several national news channels.

Thanks to the attention that Chanchal’s case received, offers of support and assistance have come from across India. On March 15th, 2013, Chanchal was transported to Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi to receive treatment from some of the best plastic surgeons in the country. The Hospital agreed to cover the full cost of Chanchal’s medical care as well as providing financial assistance to her family.

The Judgement in Public Interest Litigation for rehabilitation of Acid attack sufferers in Honorable Supreme Court filed by Parivartan Kendra-

Parivartan Kendra filed Public Interest Litigation for complete and just rehabilitation for acid attack survivors in April 2013 in honorable Supreme Court of India.

Supreme Court of India announced judgement in December 2015 in Public Interest Litigation namely Parivartan Kendra Vs Union of India and others filed in 2013 through Varsha Jawalgekar, Secretary Parivartan Kendra. Honorable court had announced 10 lakhs as compensation to Chanchal and 3 lakhs to her younger sister. This became a historical benchmark judgement. Other acid attacks survivors can fight for increased compensation based on this judgement. In Bihar, the compensation in 2013 while filing this PIL was only twenty five thousand rupees.

An interim judgement in the same PIL is also extraordinary and progressive. Court ordered that private hospitals have to give proper and urgent treatment to the acid attack survivors free of cost. If they deny, they will face contempt of court.

Congratulations to all the acid attack survivors/ strugglers.

The judgement is attached. Read Judgement