NEW DELHI: The Government of India has approved a policy of the Chandigarh Administration for providing monthly financial assistance to acid attack survivors.
This information has been placed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court during hearing of the case recently. In a letter to the Chief Secretary, UT of Chandigarh, under Secretary to the Government of India Ministry of Home has informed that the competent authority has approved financial assistance scheme “SAHAS-Support and Assistance for Healing Acid Survivors” of Chandigarh Administration to provide a monthly financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to be provided to each acid attack victim in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, subject to following conditions.
Instead of new scheme, it may be made a separate component of already running schemes i.e., Union Territory of Chandigarh Victims Assistance Scheme 2012 or Pension to the Persons with Disabilities as deemed appropriate.
Suitable economic criteria will also be incorporated for selection of beneficiaries and continuation of pension as deemed appropriate.
Benefit will be transferred through DBT mode only and suitable safeguards, including with respect to residency, will be incorporated for selection of beneficiaries so that the scheme is not misused.
Besides, the budget need will be met from already available resources with Chandigarh Administration.
The Centre’s response came during a hearing of a contempt petition filed by advocate HC Arora.
Arora had alleged that in a PIL filed by him, the UT administration had undertaken to pay monthly financial assistance to acid attack victims at the rate it is paid by Punjab and Haryana, but it did not keep its promise while Punjab was paying monthly a pension of Rs 10,000 since 2016.
After that, the Secretary (Social Welfare), Women and Child Development Department, filed an affidavit stating that the scheme was finalised and sent for approval to the competent authority.
As per the draft policy of the administration, the applicants must provide a disability certificate confirming the disability was caused by an acid attack. Applications can be submitted by the survivor or, in cases of severe disability, by a family member or legal heir.
Other required documents include a copy of the FIR, Aadhaar card, proof of residence, bank account details, and an annual life certificate. The administration said all applications will be processed within a month, and the payments will begin from the first day of the following month. The scheme also allows for appeals in case an application is rejected. Aggrieved persons can approach the secretary of the social welfare department for redressal.