Voice of the Wild | Blogs

🌿| Acid|🌿

♠️ACID♠️
Written by- @writes_love01

1,600 victims of the acid attacks were observed between 2018-20 in India by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). 1,600 is not a tiny numerical for us to neglect. Most of the victims are women and many were never reported. Every year in India, acid attacks increase with 250-300 reported cases annually. But, according to Acid Survivors’ Trust International, there are actually more than 1000 cases per year that are either not reported or actions are not executed. The acid is so cheap that it only costs 20 Indian Rupees for a bottle; way cheaper than a knife or poison. Acids are easily available in shops in certain areas of India, especially rural areas. Where people sell acid openly as if it’s a daily essential.

Even after the Supreme Court has declared acid attacks as a cognizable offence under Section 326 (A) of the Indian Penal Code with punishment up to 10 years, the attacks don’t cease. A total of 596 acid attack cases were reported between the years 2017 and 2018, with 623 victims falling as prey. But, data shows that only 149 people were charge-sheeted each year. Even after years of the ban of acid in India, you can easily buy acid from a store without many intricacies. The failure of keeping the acid ban a success is one of the main reasons why acid attacks still happen. Many of them don’t have illegal actions taken against the attacker, while some are not even reported.

The most used acid in acid attacks is Sulphuric acid and Nitric acid which are very harmful to our body. Sulphuric acid is very strong and corrosive leading to burning our skin completely when in contact with our skin. It can make one blind if it touches their eyes. Nitric acid has an equal effect on one’s body if it comes in contact with our skin. Nitric acid is corrosive enough to produce severe burns, scarring, ulceration, dermatitis and yellow staining of the skin. Nitric acid reacts with the oils in your skin to create burns. A less effective acid, Hydrochloric acid is also used as a weapon during acid attacks. But, it can also cause erythema and inflammation of the skin to severe chemical burns to the skin and mucous membranes.

We all know about the famous acid attack survivor, Laxmi Agarwal who had taken many steps ahead to fight against this neglected topic in India. Her interest and determination made it a success by bringing a law against acid attackers and also regulating the selling of acids in India. But, everything almost went back to the same as it was even after bringing this many changes. There are many people who are suffering and still haven’t got justice.

If we take the reasons for why these many women are attacked with acid, it’s mostly because of denial. Denial of marriage, sex and sexual rejection of boys and men. The way people don’t understand each other and attack them as an act of revenge in their denial. If they took at least another second to decide whether to destroy a person or not, the problem wouldn’t have worsened. When each year, more than 1000 people suffer from acid attacks, most of them keep shut because of getting rejected and humiliated.

Even if the Government has taken actions against these attackers years ago, it still continues because of the lack of strictness in these laws. If, and only if the Government took a bigger step towards making these laws rigid, we could lessen the number of people who suffer from acid attacks and also make people understand that destruction and betrayal is not always a solution. Not only the Government, if you try to understand what your partner, friend, or anyone is going through, you can keep yourself away from danger and also from destroying a person. Whatever way it is; betrayal, rejection, humiliation, misunderstanding or even a small mistake from anyone’s side, try to understand them too. Because if you don’t, even a small disagreement can lead to a big quandary.

Love and hugs
⚫⚜️⚫⚜️⚫⚜️⚫⚜️⚫

June 4, 2021. (Friday)