Srinagar, Jan 3: While the Jammu and Kashmir Government has no rehabilitation plan for victims of acid attack, it has miserably failed to get a centrally-sponsored scheme extended to the State to help such victims.
Official sources told Greater Kashmir that the J&K Government has done little to get the Government of India’s scheme for relief and rehabilitation of victims (of Acid attacks) on women and children extended to the State. “It extends to the whole of India except the state of Jammu and Kashmir,” they said. “The State government could have ensured extension of the scheme to Jammu and Kashmir but it hasn’t taken any initiative in this regard.”
As per the provisions of the scheme, a victim can be paid an interim financial relief of Rs five lakh within a period of 30 days and the payment is to be directly sent to the hospital where the survivor undergoes treatment.
Talking to Greater Kashmir over phone from New Delhi, the chairperson of National Commission for Women, Mamta Sharma, said she is unaware whether the scheme is applicable to the residents of JK or not. “I will have to go through the rules to comment about the jurisdiction of the scheme in JK,” she said, adding that the funds for treatment of such victims come from Prime Minister’s Office.
Interestingly, the State Government especially the Social Welfare Department has no provision to bear the cost of treatment of such victims, sources said.
Meanwhile, the State Commission for Women Thursday demanded that the State Government should rehabilitate the victim as well as bear the cost of her treatment. “I am formally writing to the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday on long-term rehabilitation and employment for such victims. Besides, I would also urge the CM to bear the treatment expenses of the victim to enable her speedy recovery,” chairperson of the Commission, Shamima Firdous said.
Terming the acid attack on the young female as barbaric and inhuman act, Shamima said that the law- enforcing agencies should wake up from the “deep slumber’ and work towards securing womenfolk in the Valley.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 3 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 3 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 4 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST