The daily reporting of incidents of Acid attacks on women clearly shows that the male perpetrators disfigure women as a form of revenge. They get hold of the corrosive chemical without difficulty, and have little fear of the law. Such acid attacks have brought the focus back on the need for effective monitoring and regulation. With acids being available in the market, for purposes ranging from painting, use in car batteries, in de-weeding and as floor-cleaning substances, they easily fall in the hands of those who want to wreak vengeance. Just the regulation of acid sales is, however, not enough. While there are scores of factories manufacturing acid without a licence, illegal sales of the deadly liquid are quite commonplace too. Moreover, the perpetrators of acid attacks, among the most heinous of crimes, deserve the severest punishment. It is necessary to impart and inculcate moral values and streamline the police and prosecuting agencies. Leaders cutting across party affiliations should show the requisite political will, courage and conviction to deal ruthlessly with crimes against women. Instead of preaching always now it is time to awake and do something for ourselves and for society otherwise such incident will continue and we will repent after that. Only holistic education system and moral upliftment can bring the change in the society for this burning gender-sensitive issue.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
