Acid attacks against women in India: urgent care, compensation and recovery support
A survivor-centred guide to immediate safety, medical and rehabilitation support, police and legal records, victim compensation, privacy and long-term recovery after an acid attack.
In this guide
The first response is safety and medical care
An acid attack is an emergency and a serious crime. The survivor does not have to explain the relationship, motive or future complaint before receiving safety, treatment and respectful care.
Move away from the source of danger
If the attacker is nearby, move toward a staffed public place and call 112 when safe. Do not return for a phone, bag or evidence while the person remains a threat.
Seek emergency medical care immediately
Call emergency services and follow qualified clinicians’ directions. Do not delay transport to collect evidence or wait for a police officer. Tell staff what substance and exposure are known if it is safe to do so.
Ask the hospital to record and treat the injury
MHA guidance describes directions for free treatment and care for acid-attack survivors. Ask the hospital about the current policy, medicines, surgery, follow-up, disability support and how to complain if care is refused.
Protect the survivor from crowds and cameras
Ask relatives, bystanders and media not to photograph, livestream or publish the survivor’s face, name, location or medical details. Privacy supports healing and safety.
Do not blame the survivor
A relationship, rejection, clothing, work, caste, sexuality or decision to leave never justifies an acid attack. The person who used the acid is responsible for the violence.
Make treatment and recovery accessible
Recovery can include repeated surgery, pain care, vision or hearing care, counselling, rehabilitation, assistive devices, education, work and housing. Ask the survivor what she wants and what the clinical team recommends.
Ask for a coordinated care plan
Request a written explanation of treatment, referrals, medicine, follow-up, reconstructive options, costs and transport. A qualified clinician should discuss risks and alternatives; this guide does not prescribe treatment.
Plan disability and rehabilitation support
Scarring, mobility, vision, hearing, breathing and pain can change daily access. Ask for accessible services, assistive devices, rehabilitation and a disability assessment where relevant.
Support mental health without forcing disclosure
Fear, grief, anger, isolation and trauma are understandable. Offer confidential counselling and let the survivor choose who attends appointments; do not treat distress as proof that she is unable to decide.
Keep medicines, records and travel safe
Store prescriptions, discharge papers, photos, bills and appointment dates where the attacker cannot access them. Arrange transport that does not require returning to the unsafe home.
Plan school, work and income
Ask institutions for leave, flexible attendance, accessible facilities, remote options, wage protection or a safe return plan where applicable. Recovery should not mean permanent exclusion from education or livelihood.
| Need | Who can provide it? | Safe next contact or record |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency and medical treatment | ||
| Surgery, rehabilitation or disability access | ||
| Police, legal aid and compensation | ||
| Housing, income, school or work |
Police, evidence and legal support
The survivor can seek a criminal investigation, compensation and protection while prioritising care. She should not be expected to identify the attacker, recount the incident repeatedly or face the accused without support.
Ask for a clear complaint record
Describe the substance, injury, date, place, people, threats and witnesses as known. Ask for the complaint or FIR number and a safe contact. The exact criminal provisions depend on the facts and current law.
Use Zero FIR if location is disputed
If a station says the incident occurred elsewhere, ask about the MHA’s Zero FIR advisory and request an acknowledgement and transfer details. Do not let jurisdiction delay emergency care.
Preserve evidence safely
Keep medical records, clothing, messages, threats, CCTV details, photographs and witness contacts when safe. Do not handle the container, confront the accused or circulate injury images publicly.
Ask for legal aid and a compensation application
The State or District Legal Services Authority and NALSA can explain representation, protection and victim-compensation forms. Ask how interim relief, identity protection and medical expenses are handled.
Record retaliation separately
Threats, settlement pressure, stalking, eviction, school or job loss and online exposure may need a new safety and legal response. Call 112 for immediate danger.
Compensation and practical financial help
Victim compensation is administered through state and district systems and amounts, forms and timelines can change. The survivor should ask the relevant authority for the current scheme rather than relying on an old social-media post.
Ask the DLSA or SLSA about the state scheme
MHA describes victim-compensation schemes and NALSA’s compensation framework for women survivors of crimes, including acid attacks. Ask the District Legal Services Authority how to apply, what documents are needed and how to appeal.
Ask about interim relief
A survivor may need money for treatment, transport, rent, food, disability support or a safe move before a case ends. Ask whether interim assistance is available and record the application number; no payment date is guaranteed.
Check additional central assistance carefully
MHA describes additional assistance under the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and central funds in its guidance. Amounts, eligibility and implementation must be confirmed for the state and current date.
Do not pay a broker for a guaranteed award
A legal-aid office, hospital social worker or survivor organisation can explain the official route. Keep receipts and do not hand over the only identity document or bank PIN.
Budget for long-term needs
List medicines, surgery, travel, counselling, assistive devices, education, rent, childcare, lost income and legal expenses. A compensation application is one part of recovery, not a substitute for services or dignity.
Privacy, dignity and return to public life
A survivor may face staring, online abuse, marriage pressure, job loss and unwanted charity. Support should restore control and access rather than turn her injury into a public identity.
Let the survivor choose public storytelling
Media, fundraising and campaigns need informed consent, clear use of images and a way to withdraw where possible. Do not tell the story for her because it seems inspirational.
Protect identity and location
Avoid posting hospital, home, school, workplace, phone, medical or family details. Ask platforms to remove unauthorised images and keep report numbers without recirculating the content.
Challenge exclusion at work and school
An institution should discuss accessible attendance, leave, transport, exam or work adjustments and anti-harassment measures. A survivor should not have to prove that she is emotionally ‘normal’ to return.
Do not make marriage or forgiveness the recovery test
A survivor may want privacy, a relationship, work, education, activism, rest or none of these. Recovery is not measured by appearance, marriage or public gratitude.
Offer survivor-led support
Women Helpline 181, One Stop Centres, legal aid and trusted survivor organisations may connect practical and emotional support. Confirm current local availability and the safest contact method.
Questions people ask
Will a hospital treat an acid-attack survivor before an FIR?
Emergency care should not be delayed while deciding the reporting route. MHA guidance describes directions on treatment; ask the hospital for the current policy and get legal help if care is refused.
How does compensation work?
State or district legal-services authorities administer victim-compensation routes, and current amounts and documents vary. Ask the DLSA about interim relief, the state scheme and any additional assistance.
Should I post the survivor’s photo to raise money?
Only with informed consent and a clear privacy plan. Public images can expose the survivor to stalking, shame and permanent loss of control; an official or private fundraising route may be safer.
What if the attacker is a partner or relative?
Relationship does not reduce the seriousness of the violence. Plan safety, medical care, protection, complaint and housing support together; do not send the survivor to negotiate alone.
What can a supporter say?
‘You deserve treatment, privacy and a future on your terms. We can ask the hospital and DLSA about current support, protect your records and let you decide what is shared.’
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Sources and publication record
Draft prepared 16 September 2026; project-team editorial review pending · Sources checked .
- MHA guidance on treatment and compensation for acid-attack survivorsMinistry of Home Affairs, Government of India
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023India Code, Legislative Department
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023India Code, Legislative Department
- MHA advisories on compulsory FIR registration and Zero FIRMinistry of Home Affairs, Government of India
- Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987India Code, Legislative Department
- Free legal services and National Legal Aid Helpline 15100National Legal Services Authority
- Emergency Response Support System 112Ministry of Home Affairs
- Women Helpline 181Ministry of Women and Child Development
- One Stop Centre schemeMinistry of Women and Child Development
- Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005India Code, Legislative Department
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016India Code, Legislative Department
- Mental Healthcare Act, 2017India Code, Legislative Department
- The Constitution of India (official 2024 edition)Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice
- Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India, Supreme Court judgment (24 August 2017)Supreme Court of India
- National Cyber Crime Reporting PortalIndian Cybercrime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs